Path: csiph.com!x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net!usenet.pasdenom.info!news.albasani.net!news2.arglkargh.de!news.wiretrip.org!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed5.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail
Return-Path: <rosuav@gmail.com>
X-Original-To: python-list@python.org
Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org
X-Spam-Status: OK 0.043
X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.91; '*S*': 0.00; 'subject:: [': 0.03; 'am,': 0.14; 'wrote:': 0.14; 'being,': 0.16; 'eliminated': 0.16; 'lambda': 0.16; 'simulate': 0.16; 'subject:versus': 0.16; 'mathematics': 0.16; 'subject:] ': 0.16; 'unknown': 0.19; 'header :In-Reply-To:1': 0.22; 'previously': 0.22; 'received:209.85.214.174': 0.23; 'received:mail- iw0-f174.google.com': 0.23; '.net': 0.25; 'chris': 0.27; 'message- id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.28; 'missed': 0.29; 'fri,': 0.29; 'elements': 0.29; 'costs.': 0.31; 'does': 0.31; 'to:addr:python- list': 0.32; '...': 0.32; 'there': 0.35; 'point': 0.35; 'subject:software': 0.35; 'problem.': 0.36; 'enough': 0.37; 'received:209.85': 0.37; 'apr': 0.38; 'received:google.com': 0.38; 'software': 0.38; 'received:209.85.214': 0.39; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.39; 'received:209': 0.39; "it's": 0.40; 'header:Received:5': 0.40; '2011': 0.62; 'covering': 0.64; 'ever': 0.65; 'anything.': 0.72; 'subject:Free': 0.72; 'calculus.': 0.84; 'valid,': 0.84; 'universe': 0.91
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date :message-id:subject:from:to:content-type:content-transfer-encoding; bh=MCyrJViJpqs/EYr6iDRcyWsHP5xs3KA/BXyqqAVRMiA=; b=Rj1+JINrrDpC+c32YEISYtxLKyD3z+moq356nb0mKutZezxg97REEbDVIaoqHuXMIz +Czmqbg4K/V2m8qKAwiezChf4k6f9fs9QIfPCu7Hc6PyVMWUnWiEZrp55pIRwRXNM+6p LUtRf263Pg3t/aqcNFSrP2y5VyD6Uc89uI49I=
DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=vw9TJiOzlG4Xply3+fR/4M2v1NMDGAt7S2cxizXaFI5vTpWRTNE2sktdP0x3tBM3zr 9lqspfOiJzPDwXzB7KJxcKWPwK3mPS+kLduTjEDRzFRSV9UllRGxeakAw2ku1/fauYQg bTaBokR5J5kK26g1SBH7Ftx7nJhoIv0NQ8/r4=
MIME-Version: 1.0
In-Reply-To: <OHlnp.10535$g56.5872@newsfe04.iad>
References: <mailman.65.1302065189.9059.python-list@python.org> <t7Vmp.7632$zn.3197@newsfe19.iad> <mailman.72.1302078388.9059.python-list@python.org> <4d9c5ca5$0$29991$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> <87tyebf3r3.fsf_-_@benfinney.id.au> <_Abnp.8356$zn.729@newsfe19.iad> <4d9d6587$0$29992$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> <OHlnp.10535$g56.5872@newsfe04.iad>
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 05:55:45 +1000
Subject: Re: [OT] Free software versus software idea patents
From: Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com>
To: python-list@python.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12
Precedence: list
List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language <python-list.python.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-list>, <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list>
List-Post: <mailto:python-list@python.org>
List-Help: <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list>, <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=subscribe>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.python
Message-ID: <mailman.121.1302206148.9059.python-list@python.org>
Lines: 22
NNTP-Posting-Host: 82.94.164.166
X-Trace: 1302206148 news.xs4all.nl 41113 [::ffff:82.94.164.166]:52802
X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl
Xref: x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net comp.lang.python:2805

On Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 2:33 AM, harrismh777 <harrismh777@charter.net> wrote=
:
> =A0 =A0Therein lies *the* problem. The point that gets missed over and ov=
er is
> that there CAN BE NO PATENT COVERING MATHEMATICS ... =A0period.
>
> =A0 =A0Yes, C# and .NET are covered by hundreds of software patents. Its =
an
> insane mess... which must be eliminated at all costs.
>
> =A0 =A0All software can be expressed as lambda calculus. The point being,=
 all
> software is mathematics...

With enough software, you can simulate anything. That means that the
entire universe can be expressed as lambda calculus. Does that mean
that nothing can ever be patented, because it's all just mathematics?

At what point is there valid, patentable creativity to be found in
combining known elements in previously unknown ways?

Chris Angelico