On Mon, 2005-08-15 at 14:25 +0800, Chong Tsewai wrote: > In a slashdot discussion of Bruce Perens comment on Patent Pool. > > http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=158939&threshold=1&commentsort=0&tid=155&mode=thread&cid=13316181 Another good one from that thread (courtesy of Tomboy <- love this app) Relation to Mathematics ----------------------- Apply is a mathematical operator : this is what you would refer to as "calling a method". Defining a function is an equation Practically all programming language semantic research is couched in the terms of category or set theory. When a patent claims something like the "method of drag and drop", it is claiming that all possible symbolic forms that implement this method are infringing. These forms, like every program you have ever written, are mathematical. The big issue is that the form is not being claimed as in a copyrighted work or a physical patent: it is the very concept of solving the problem that is being claimed. Once you have spotted a problem, you immediately control all possible solutions. http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=154983&cid=12993900
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