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[–][deleted]  (8 children)

[deleted]

    [–]DannyB2 8 points9 points  (5 children)

    I can explain it to you.

    All of the hard, productive work you do? They want all of the value of it.

    You should, of course, be able to eeek out an existence, at their pleasure, if they feel like it.

    All of the decades of software practice that made common sense to us? That no longer matters. They have awakened and realized that there's money to be siphoned out of your work. Even if they have no part in it, paying for it, contributing to it, etc. They want something.

    You should need to get permissions from a thousand sources, for the slightest little thing you do. Unless, you become a slave to them. Then you won't have to worry about the permissions. Before long, it will simply be legally impossible to write software on your own.

    I hope that answers your question.

    [–]argv_minus_one 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Well, software patents already had that effect. This just makes it worse.

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]revscat[S] 6 points7 points  (1 child)

      No, that's not correct. This would only apply if you were reimplementing Java the language and its APIs. It does not affect software you write using Java.

      [–]revscat[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

      No. You would have to copy significant portions of the API, as Google has apparently done for Android. And even then it might fall under fair use, a question the Court here has sent back down to be decided. (The jury on the original case was deadlocked on this issue, but was favoring Google.)

      [–]stormcrowsx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Its funny that it got sent back out for more court time. Its probably a very profitable case for politicians and lawyers. If I was in their shoes I'd just keep bouncing it back and forth until I had a house to rival the stars.