Ethereal-dev: RE: [Ethereal-dev] Request: Change the allowed license of plugins

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From: "Graham Bloice" <graham.bloice@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 17:34:14 -0000
> It is not the writing of the decoder of a protocol that is the
> problem. It is
> its release under GPL and its effect on patent invalidation that is the
> problem.
>

AFAIK this is a confusion between patents and trademarks.  A patent can not
be invalidated by not pursuing infringers, whereas a trademark can.

I just don't see the problem for granted patents, but I do see a problem for
patents currently in submission.  In this case though shouldn't the patent
owner then be extremely careful not to let information leak out as their
patent could be invalidated by prior art.

Regards,

Graham Bloice