Patents and data ex. formats

From: André Dolenc (Helsinki University of Technology)
Date: Friday, February 10, 1995

From: André Dolenc (Helsinki University of Technology)
To: RP-ML
Date: Friday, February 10, 1995
Subject: Patents and data ex. formats
Fact 1: One or more RP (HF) vendors hold patent(s) related to hatching.
 (FIY: Hatching is the way the laser scans the interior of the contours,
  ie. it defines the internal structure of the slice)

Fact 2: Data exchange formats are being defined that allow users (of suitable
 software tools) to supply the contours AND the hatches.

Fact 3 follows from 1 and 2: Users are free to define any hatch pattern
 they like, but patents may be infringed in this way.

Questions:
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1. Should the patent have be issued in the first place?
2. How can it be enforced?
3. How can one restrict a CAD system from drawing a certain pattern and
   writting the result onto a file?
4. Who can be sued?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have discussed this with a couple of people, and I got two responses:

1. The patent holder must prove that an individual users is using his/hers
   patented hatch pattern. This, of course, can be very difficult, particularly
   when many parts are subsequently burnt in an high-temperature furnace...

2. The patent applies only when the hatching is created "inside" the machine.
   When the hatches are created "outside" the machine, the patent is not
   infringed.

The floor is now yours...

Regards,
Andre'


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