Re: A reply on the RTLinux discussion.

[Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>]

On Wed, 2002-05-29 at 15:14, John Levon wrote:
> And you're still not addressing the "what if RedHat etc. go bad?"

The fact you even ask that question means you've not read the most basic
intro to patent law and patent licensing. Look up estoppel. When a
promise not to sue for patent violation is made it has certain force.

That promise exists:
	http://www.redhat.com/legal/patent_policy.html

so if you are writing GPL software you only have a problem if you sue
Red Hat first.

> The fact is, I cannot use ideas from these patents in free software
> (RedHat's or whoever's) without the risk that some day I will be sued
> to hell and back. GPL/free software license or not.

Look up estoppel.

> > So why is he still moaning. He's got a legal opinion that he can use
> > binary apps on RTAI without paying the license. What else does he want ?
> 
> No software patents ?

Which is the position Red Hat is campaigning for, both in the EU and
also in the USA.