Hacker News Reader

>If you are in the U.S., beware of software patents. Some papers are patented and you could get into trouble for using them in commercial applications.

Is it only commercial applications that you have to worry about? I was under the impression that even a free implementation would be infringing the patent and make you liable for damages.

View on HN

Free implementations are liable. See Madey v. Duke University. It severely restricted the research exemption (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_exemption)

I have had University Council tell me I cannot open source code I have written implementing patented algorithms. It is unfortunately more common than most people think, and often not acknowledged in publications.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com