Re: OT - Curl & patents

[Jeffrey Siegal <address@hidden>]

Christopher Barber wrote:
> > Clearly, Curl, Inc, is a very lawyer-centric place.
> 
> Most companies are, but please don't judge the product by this.

It is pretty clear tha the original poster was suggesting *in comparison
to other companies*.  And when judging a *product*, it is entirely
reasonable to consider the practices of the company trying to sell that
product.  This is not an academic exercise which can be judged based on
technical and scientific merit.  A product of this nature can not
reasonably be viewed in isolation from its supplier.

> As an engineer, I have mixed feelings about software patents, but given that
> the law allows them to exist, it makes business sense for Curl to try to
> protect our stockholders considerable investment.

It *may* make business sense, to the extent that taking such an approach
does not, directly or indirectly, alienate to many potential customers.