IANAL either, but the "quick and dirty" solution to this is just to print out the code to your plugin, stick it in an envelope, and mail it to yourself. USPS is recognized by the US courts as valid, so a postmarked, sealed envelope is pretty much incontrivertable proof that you were there when you said you were. (YMMV: obviously, these instructions are obviously only valid for the USA, and I know you're not from there... good luck finding out if a similiar thing is possible in .au) ---- The Tao is like a glob pattern: It is masked but always present. used but never used up. I don't know who built to it. It is like the extern void: It came before the first kernel. filled with infinite possibilities. [glyph@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Fri, 7 Jan 2000, Guillermo S. Romero / Familia Romero wrote: > >A question about patents. Is putting something on the web enough to > >prevent someone patenting it, or could someone download my plug-in and > >then patent the algorithm? > > Your plugin is prior art so patents can not be taken. But web is still a > weird place, so you will have to convice lawyers that it is your and since > day X. > > What I would do is to register your plugin (copyright office) or get an > official stamp (notary? I hope that is the correct word for the guy who does > that). In other words, an official doc that says that since day X your app > exists, and is yours. > > So if anybody tries to patent it he will be unable to get it (prior art) or > will get a void patent (due lack of prior art research). I think that the > copyright registration is not expensive, and as legal evidence it should be > enough. And it will also in the case of somebody not following your license. > > Anyway, check with a lawyer, IANAL. > > GSR
