Hi, Currently I use the Sun Java Enterpise System Directory Server and I want to evaluate if the Fedora Directory Server is a suitable replacerment. But I came over patent claims that could prevent me from using the Open Source Alternative. Fedora Directory Server and Sun Java Enterprise Directory Server have the Netscape/iPlanet Directory Server as a common ancestor. In May 15th 2003 several people applied for patents regarding directory server software. One of them, Gordon Good, is always mentioned. Seemingly he worked on the Directory Server at Netscape: http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/authors/GoodGordon.htm He was one of them who applied for the following patents: 20030093440 http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u =%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1 =%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/ 20030088656 http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u =%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1 =%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/ 20030088615 http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u =%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=3&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1 =%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/ 20030088589 http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u =%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=4&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1 =%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/ 20030088587 http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u =%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=5&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1 =%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/ 20020184230 http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u =%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=6&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1 =%22Merrells%2C+John%22.IN.&OS=IN/ I live in Europe so I don't have a problem *yet*, but should the european parliament fail to stop the software patent law I would be careful to use this directory server because of SCO like license demands later. How is the situation in light of these patent claims with the fedora directory server? Frerk Meyer EDEKA Aktiengesellschaft GB Datenverarbeitung Frerk Meyer CC Web Technologien New-York-Ring 6 22297 Hamburg Tel: 040/6377 - 3272 Fax: 040/6377 - 41268 mailto:frerk.meyer@xxxxxxxx
