DF - Distributed Folding receives US Patent!

[FoBoT]

howard posted this in the news section

02/16/2003

- Patented - we are proud to announce the the Distributed Folding structure generation algorithm is now patented (U.S. Patent no. 6490532, as of Dec. 3, 2002). For details, visit the patent office here.

cool 😎

 

[FoBoT]

😕

hmmm, upon further investigation, this has pissed off some people on various teams and they are quitting the project

i don't quite get it, apparently the dissenters feel that by obtaining a patent on the algorithm, this makes the DF project an evil capitalist venture somehow

i dunno about all that stuff

 

[Insidious]

Woooooo Hoooooooooo

😀 ***************** Credibility ******************** 😀



(Is there a 'smirk' emoticon?)


That's a neat milestone for the Distributed Folding Project.

would it undermine our good name if I did my little dance in public? 😱


FINE!

I'll just sit here and smirk

 

[FoBoT]

for anybody that wants to read the "for/against" arguement regarding the need to patent the algorithm here is a linky

Dr. Houge has a very informative post about how a company has patented distributed computing et al already, back in '98 and points out that they haven't yet sued SETI or United Devices or distributed.net or anybody regarding patent infringement (well, not yet anyway)

 

[Insidious]

woah....

(good thing I didn't do the dance

)

Wasn't developing an algorithm that was unique the goal of this project?

I had assumed all along that if/when Howard was successful that the results
of our work would be offered commerically to the scientific community?

I'm confused..... anyway, not my fight. I plan to let it all play out and then
if they ferk up DF, I'll move along.... if they don't, I'll stay!

edit:

I just skimmed over that thread.... one of the guys putting up the biggest bitch is also bragging about being wasted.....

Oh yeah, I'm interested in his opinion. :|

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
Dr. Houge has a very informative post about how a company has patented distributed computing et al already, back in '98 and points out that they haven't yet sued SETI or United Devices or distributed.net or anybody regarding patent infringement (well, not yet anyway)

Yea, they haven't sued anybody...yet. That's what I don't like about being able to patent things like "one click ordering," GIF algorithms, and hyperlinks. All you end up with is a bunch of worthless lawsuits that inhibit technological progress, etc. Hopefully the DF people won't feel the need to sue Folding@Home once they get this patented (I don't know enough about the differences between the two projects to know if they're overlapping in that way or not). 🙁

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Insidious
. one of the guys putting up the biggest bitch is also bragging about being wasted.....

Oh yeah, I'm interested in his opinion. :|

actually, pointwood is a pretty good guy, DC wise

he is from denmark and i am not trying to generalize or stereotype or anything, but i think he drinks more/more often than a typical american and i don't think he meant it as bragging, more of a statement that he should lay off the subject until he has a clear head

 

[Insidious]

fair enough...

( I had left his name out of it on purpose because I don't know the guy)