SUN's patent for _quick opcode

[Archie Cobbs]

peter at transvirtual.com writes:
> I might be wrong, but I think this already was used in Smalltalk
> implementations some 15 years ago. Whatever this means, law-wise..

It means "prior art" which makes the patent invalid. However,
you have to go to court to get this confirmed. On the flip
side, you also have to be taken to court to get your violation
of the patent confirmed :-) Many patents have had neither happen,
so to some extent they are still "theoretical".

-Archie

___________________________________________________________________________
Archie Cobbs   *   Whistle Communications, Inc.  *   http://www.whistle.com