Subj : Re: Implementing lock-free data structures
To   : comp.programming.threads
From : Bluejack
Date : Fri Mar 11 2005 11:45 am

On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 17:11:58 -0500, Joe Seigh <jseigh_01@xemaps.com> wrote:

>>
> Well, besides getting a patent, the only things you can do are publish or
> keep it secret.  If you publish it, it can be patented in theory.  If
> you keep it secret, it can still be patented by anyone else who thinks
> of it also and then you can't use your own idea after that.

Well, actually, if you publish it in an open forum (such as this  
newsgroup),
then you have established "prior art" against anyone who might attempt to
patent it. Of course, the patent office doesn't actually research prior art
before granting patents, so some villain *might* actually get the patent,
but it would never be enforceable... like most patents, not worth the paper
it's printed on (or the lawyers fees it took to get it).

-bluejack

.