Why not contribute? (to GCC)

[Mark Mielke]

On 04/23/2010 08:37 PM, Basile Starynkevitch wrote:
> However, I would believe that most GCC contributors do not actively 
> check their patch against the US patent system (because I perceive the 
> US patent system to be very ill w.r.t. software). I confess I don't do 
> that - it would be a full time & boring job.
>

At some companies, the lawyers specifically request that employees do 
NOT check for violation of patents or research any patents before 
writing code, as this process actually increases liability. It's similar 
to the "clean room implementation" model. If I look, then my ability to 
say "I wrote this myself without any input" is tainted. If I just write 
it myself without researching what others have done, then I can at least 
claim I never copied any ideas, and although I might still be found in 
violation of a patent, this can be addressed if and when it is found 
(either pay license/royalty fees or re-write the code to NOT use the 
now-known-to-be-patented ideas).

Just thought that this "opposite approach" might be interesting to 
readers... :-)

Cheers,
mark