From: ds2list <ds2list_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 11:32:03 -0700

With all the Intellectual Property controversies going on in the
open-source world right now (SCO vs. Linux/IBM, etc.), I was
wondering if there is any way to protect innovative features of
open source projects like Rockbox from idea stealing by companies.

Specifically, I was thinking about my Talkbox patch. I've not seen
that feature on any other personal mp3 players, and I'd like it to
stay something that is owned by the Open Source community. Is there
any way to ensure this. Is there a way of demonstrating "prior art"
with project like Rockbox, so that a company like Apple/Creative
would think twice before copying a new Rockbox feature to an I-Pod
or Nomad? Or is the philosophy of the project to allow this
kind of "borrowing"? Are unique features of an open-source project
"patentable" by the project?

-Danan
Received on 2003-05-20