The Cost of Ideas

Sun and Kodak recently settled their intellectual-property (IP) dispute over Sun's implementation of Java -- Kodak successful claim was over three object oriented patents it had obtained when it acquired Wang Labs back in 1997. Java however is a development language, and therefore, the IP in question is implemented wherever Java is implemented. Since most businesses don't license Java from Sun, it raises interesting questions about their liability -- similar to SCO's suit against Daimler-Chrysler and Auto Zone. Just who is liable for violating IP? What kind of indemnification protects businesses? InformationWeek has a summary on the subject.

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