Who owns the patent to basic sorting/seaching algorithms?

[AFB]

I wonder if anyone has pantented them? Someone might want to try judging by how far some of these things go.

You could pull a Kodak
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...8&threadid=1408228

 

[kamper]

I think most relevant sort algorithms are old enough that patents would have expired by now. When was quick sort invented?

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: kamper
I think most relevant sort algorithms are old enough that patents would have expired by now. When was quick sort invented?

How about binary/linear searching?

Hey, if MS can patent information traveling though humans (ie nervous system), you could patent this.

 

[kamper]

I patented the usage of a name expressing appreciation for the work of any processor company challenging Intel. I will require payments of $100/month if you wish to continue benefitting from the usage of your name, which I put more hard work into creating than you. Nevermind, I didn't put any work into it. I just bought the rights to the patent from my friend for $5 when he went bankrupt. Never-the-less, money please

I think some things are so obvious and common that you can't patent them. Things like binary/linear search were probably mathematical concepts before they became relevant in computer science so I think you could always argue that the idea is public domain.

 

[PrincessGuard]

Quicksort was invented in 1962. Computer science isn't as recent as you might think.

 

[kamper]

That was my point. Thanks for the info though.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: kamper
I patented the usage of a name expressing appreciation for the work of any processor company challenging Intel. I will require payments of $100/month if you wish to continue benefitting from the usage of your name, which I put more hard work into creating than you. Nevermind, I didn't put any work into it. I just bought the rights to the patent from my friend for $5 when he went bankrupt. Never-the-less, money please

I think some things are so obvious and common that you can't patent them. Things like binary/linear search were probably mathematical concepts before they became relevant in computer science so I think you could always argue that the idea is public domain.

lol

 

[DaveSimmons]

Back then university professors were doing most of the basic research into algorithms and they (and their universities) weren't out to cash in on taxpayer-funded research the way they are now.

In the 70's and 80's software and method patents started to creep in and be enforced, most famously with the LZW compression patent owned by Unisys which they chose to disclose and enforce after the GIF image standard was in wide use on the web.

 

[eigen]

MATHEMATICS WANTS TO BE FREE.
WHEN ALGORITHMNS ARE IP ONLY IP PIRATES WILL HAVE ALGORITHMNS>
CARRYON.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: eigen
MATHEMATICS WANTS TO BE FREE.
WHEN ALGORITHMNS ARE IP ONLY IP PIRATES WILL HAVE ALGORITHMNS>
CARRYON.

And ditto for sofware.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: kamper

Originally posted by: eigen
MATHEMATICS WANTS TO BE FREE.
WHEN ALGORITHMNS ARE IP ONLY IP PIRATES WILL HAVE ALGORITHMNS>
CARRYON.

And ditto for sofware.

Yep