Re: Method and apparatus for generating inline code using template metaprograms

On Mar 25, 10:51 am, "Andrei Alexandrescu (See Website For Email)"
<SeeWebsiteForEm...@erdani.org> wrote:


Well, I'll admit that I was unable to even understand the first
claim; it might be rather fun trying to explain it to a jury of
12 non-programmers:-).

Seriously, I agree with your concern. For once, the inventor
really is the inventor, and the technique really is (or was)
new. (I think that David Vandevoorde independantly invented
pretty much the same thing at about the same date, but as he
didn't publish, that could be difficult to prove.) Which means
that in the very few countries that recognize software patents,
it could probably hold up in court. (I'm not sure what the
exact current status is in Europe, but at least until very
recently, software patents weren't recognized. Does that mean
that using template metaprogramming is legal in Europe, but not
in the United States? Sounds like a terrific advantage to me.)

Before getting too upset, however, it might be worth asking
Rogue Wave (the assignee) their point of view. Some patents are
taken out in order to exploit them directly; others, however,
only to prevent someone else from patenting it. This might be
simply one of the latter. (Or thinking it might be the latter
might be just wishful thinking on my part. Note however that
certain techniques fundamental to the STL are patented by HP.
In that case, however, HP has officially allowed their use.)

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James Kanze (Gabi Software) email: james.kanze@gmail.com
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