i'm from europe too and this entire matter disturbs me. how can you be sure some stupid laywer does not lay out things to sue you? for example those extensions. you say you can prevent somebody from making something with that patented stuff. but does this involve using a library? for exmaple in the case of GPL linking to a library and using it requires the app to go GPL itself, which is why LGPL has been made. now does this apply here too? hence if you link and use this function you are already bugged?

You don't have to worry about the patent issues on the extensions.

You can use the extensions.

They comment on the patent issues in the extension specification so that other implementers (= hardware manufacturers and driver makers) can know about them and get permissions as needed.

Quote: Original post by RPTD
how can you be sure some stupid laywer does not lay out things to sue you?

Anybody can sue anybody else for anything they want. For example, you could sue me for this post saying that I defamed you or otherwise harmed you.

In most places, that type of law suit gets thrown out quickly, often with the accuser getting stuck with the bill for the accused's defense. There are also many deterrents for lawyers to prevent that type of law suits.

That is a normal risk of doing business. It is small, but it still exists.

Quote: Original post by RPTD
for example those extensions. you say you can prevent somebody from making something with that patented stuff. but does this involve using a library? for exmaple in the case of GPL linking to a library and using it requires the app to go GPL itself, which is why LGPL has been made. now does this apply here too? hence if you link and use this function you are already bugged?

No, patents are not like that. Pilots don't need to acquire all the patent rights for all the pieces of the airplane.

You can use a library that implements processes protected by patent, assuming you believe the vendor has followed the law. You can reasonably argue that you have a valid license and assumed that the provider gave you a legal implementation. If ATI didn't properly license the technology, that's not your fault.

But if you get a library that says "This software violates the patent rules of the UK, USA, Australia and Japan; do not export or import it", then you better watch out.

The GPL is a different animal. It deals with copyright issues.

The whole point of the GPL is simple. If you use something from the community, anything you release must benefit the community. That is a good thing. If you don't like it, don't use stuff from the GPL community.