python obfuscate

[CM]

On Saturday, April 12, 2014 8:07:57 AM UTC-4, Sturla Molden wrote:
> CM <cmpython at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> > You're saying that fear of patent trolls is yet another bad reason to 
> 
> > obfuscate your code?  But then it almost sounds like you think it is a 
> 
> > justifiable reason. So I don't think I understand your point.  Whether a 
> 
> > patent troll has your original code or not has no bearing on the patent
> 
> > infringement.
> 
> 
> 
> There might be no infringment. Patent trolls usually possess invalid
> patents, as they constitute no real invention. These are usually not
> engineers who have invented something, but lawyers who have been granted
> patent on vague thoughts for the purpose of "selling protection". The US
> patent office has allowed this to happen, by believing that any invalid
> patent can be challenged in court, so their review process is close to
> non-existent. If patent trolls have your code they are in a better position
> to blackmail. They can use your code to generate bogus "legal documents" in
> the thousands, and thereby turn up your legal expenses. 
> 
> Sturla

Ahh, I see.  I suppose such an entity might try that.  But I would hope it would not result in additional legal expenses, in that anyone with the smallest amount of legal understanding of patents knows that in doesn't matter in what way the invention is brought about in specific code, just that the *resulting invention* is similar enough to the claims of the patent.  That is, the invention could be written in Python, or C, or COMAL, in whatever spaghetti the author wants, and none of that is pertinent to the issue of patent infringement (whereas it might very well be to the issue of copyright infringement).  I would hope the defense lawyer(s) and judge struck that from the proceedings, but I am probably hoping for too rational an outcome.