Re: [Gimp-print-devel] Article: adaptive methods for dithering color images

[Jean-Jacques de J. <jea...@hp...>]

Hrafnkell Eiriksson wrote:
> 
> On Wed, Apr 26, 2000 at 08:32:08AM -0400, Robert L Krawitz wrote:
> > That sounds very interesting.  We just have to make sure there's no
> > patent on it.
> 
> Isn't it better just to let possible patent holders send a
> "cease and desist" letter asking us to stop using their patented methods?
> If we don't look we are not willingly infringing the patent?
> I think I've seen this advice from someone somewhere.
> Any lawyers?

This is dangerous, especially in the US. However, I don't suspect patent
holders wanting to go any further than that (i.e. so far as suing a free
software developer). But anyway, this would mean a load of work dumped
in the trash can!
 
> Actually this method is rather obvious to "a master of the art" (as I
> think it is called in patent laws). Linear filtering is
> basic stuff to anyone learning signal processing and image analysis.
> Choosing coefficients for a linear filter kernel using the LMS
> algorithm is usually the subject of second course in signal processing.
> Just the fact that the signal happens to be an quantized image should
> not be considered enough to allow for a patent. (I think :)
 
This is a difficult question. In practice you have to convince a judge
who is likely to find the slightest technical improvement difficult to
understand, thus non obvious and patentable.

> And remember, software patents do not exist here in Europe :)
 
Ouch! NO! There are thousands of patents in Europe covering software in
the form of methods, which is about just as bad.

JJJ