> > OK, no link at all except that they are both intellectual 
> property laws.
> 
> Maybe one link is that a copyright that precedes a patent on 
> something used
> in the code may not help you if you don't have the money to fight the
> claims of the patent holder. In that case, you may have the 
> copyright to
> your code, but can't use it because it violates a (later 
> filed) patent.

But in that sense copyright is in the same league as any other
itellectual property right (like artistic rights, trade mark rights,
etc). 

Note that in the case you describe it is the patent holder that has to
sue you, not the other way round. And a proveable copyright (which
requires publication, otherwise you can't have a copyright!) would be a
very easy proof of prior art, so I doubt the patent holder would gain
much by sueing the copyright holder.

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu
 

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist