[mythtv-users] tivo patents cover mythtv?

[jedi]

On Sat, Mar 06, 2010 at 11:24:14AM -0500, robert Larson wrote:
> IMHO:
> 
> I highly doubt it. I don't think the mythv developers ripped off code
> from Tivo. They have better things to do.....

   The problem with patents is that you don't need to rip off anything.

   The patent allows the "owner" to shake you down for stuff that you developed
on your own without any awareness of the other work. Even if you re-invented the
thing yourself in isolation, they still "own" it.

   So there is some really nasty potential here.

   Tivo Corp is obviously willing to sue over these patents. You don't even
have to win the lawsuit to ruin someone's day. Just the suit itself will be
a terrible bother. It remains to be seen whether they choose to sue any of
the PC vendors or Free Software authors.

[deletia]