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September 24

Google vs. Oracle

This case is about copyright and patent infringement. I have two questions:

How can Google be violating patents on Java when Sun had released it under the GPL, thereby licensing all relevant patents?
I though Java was open source in the first place. Granted copying GPL files into an Apache project is infringement, but Oracle speaks of Java as if it was entirely proprietary in the first place. Did Google use code from a proprietary version?

--Melab±1 ☎ 00:32, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Java was proprietary for most of its life. The move to GPL only began in late 2006. Also, I believe there were some issues or loopholes with the older versions of the GPL where patents are concerned - v3 was created in part to address those issues. Java would presumably have been released under v2. AJ Cham 00:59, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I am mostly ignorant about the history and licensing of Java, but can say that if you have patented some software and you release it under GPL 2, then GPL 2 does not require you to license your patent for free to users of the software. It does prohibit licensees from distributing the software. See the text of GPL 2, section 7. Also it may be important that the author of GPL 2 software is not bound by GPL 2, because the author is merely releasing software under this license, not agreeing to it himself or herself. (This is important in some cases, and I didn't even realize it until a few years ago.) Comet Tuttle (talk) 19:42, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Check out the references in Dalvik (software)#Licensing and patents and this update from August for the nitty-gritty details. There's a particular relatively esoteric patent claim at the heart of the dispute, and the details are complex enough to make it anyone's guess what a jury would say, if the case gets that far, but it wasn't looking great for Google. However, with Google's announced acquisition of Motorola, they will obtain a cross-license which will resolve the claim completely in their favor. That one licence was probably worth more than the rest of Motorola's patent portfolio to Google. 69.171.160.164 (talk) 21:55, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Eh? The link you provided and other refs like [1] [2] [3] [4] suggest that while the acquisition of Motorola's patents is obviously an advantage to Google in their fight against Oracle in that it gives them a larger portfolion they can try and use against Oracle to get a settlement, none of them suggest the issue will be directly resolved by the acquisition. In fact your ref seems to make this most clear of all. (And how much of an advantage it will be against Oracle appears to be in dispute because Oracle's fields are somewhat different from Motorola although there is obviously some overlap.) Nil Einne (talk) 04:19, 25 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I tend to believe the leaks from Google saying Motorola has a permissive license over the skeptics who have no evidence one way or the other. If Motorola didn't have a very permissive license, why wouldn't Oracle publish the text to buttress their stock price? 69.171.160.139 (talk) 19:22, 27 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

booking faa ATP test

Does someone can tell me how to book faa ATPL test?I am not in USA by the way. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cnlei.liu (talk • contribs) 09:06, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

What country are you in? There are some links in Airline Transport Pilot Licence, but the general answer is to contact whomever can issue your Commercial Pilot License because you need that first. 69.171.160.139 (talk) 19:25, 27 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Auxiliary Force India. Simla Rifles.

Where could I write to find out the names of those in the A.F.I. Simla Rifles 1945 -1946? I was at Bishop Cotton School Simla when serving in the Simla Rifles (A.F.I.) 1945 and 1946. Finding out my Amy Number would add to my WW II history. Best wishes...Richard D'Abreu. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Raafphotoman (talk • contribs) 10:37, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

How resiliant are teeth to cold? [ice cream contest]

Hey! Yesterday my school hosted an 6-on-6 ice-cream contest. Six litres were to be consumed per team, which means I ate 1L of ice cream in 5-10minutes (we didn't keep track of time).

A few hours later my teeth started hurting/aching. I could sleep with no problem though. Today, it hurts less, but it still hurts. I'm a 20yr old male.

Should I be concerned? When should I go to the dentist? Can cold damage the teeth?

Thanks in advance for any advice! Cybesystem (talk) 12:25, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Sadly, for ethical reasons to do with the dangers of half-assed speculation, we aren't allowed to give you medical advice, and have to just say "see a dentist". I can't even tell you whether to worry or not - you have to ask a dentist about that, too. I've heard that there are sites somewhere on the internet that are less fussily scrupulous, and that do provide quick unreliable advice on minor medical matters. Oh, and I can point you to the article dentine hypersensitivity and invite you to draw your own conclusions about whether you've got this or not and whether or not it matters. Card Zero (talk) 13:33, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I do understand. Perhaps I could rephrase my question to: "Has there been any documented cases of dental damage caused by cold food". 80.78.216.118 (talk) 15:51, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

If you have the feeling that whatever you are doing might cause permanent damage to something as important as your teeth, it's generally wise to not do it in the first place. That being said, yes, dentist if you want to know. Also, one litre of ice cream in five to ten minutes? Hit the gym and do some aerobic exercise ASAP bro. :p Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie | ^{Say Shalom!} 25 Elul 5771 15:58, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

We have an article on dentine hypersensitivity, but you asked a medical advice question, so our response absolutely has to be: If you are concerned, see a doctor or dentist. Comet Tuttle (talk) 19:31, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The rephrased question was not medical advice according to Kainaw's criterion. The rephrased question was about documented cases of something, not medical advice. Robinh (talk) 00:00, 26 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

See your dentist sometime soon. Some degree of sensitivity to cold foods is not unusual, but usually it goes away quickly. If it persists, you may have some issues to be dealt with. Going to the dentist is not fun, but neither is living with chronic dental issues. Call your dentist on Monday and make an appointment. ←baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 00:03, 26 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Unless it is cooled with dry ice or some other exotic refrigerant, ice cream will normally be served at 32/0 degrees, not a problem for teeth. You only hear of teeth cracking from the cold in depictions of arctic explorers dealing with temperatures of -40 or worse. Ever seen a toothless Eskimo?

annoyances that waste time and can upset your day

Prior to upgrade our store's point of sale customer entry and viewing terminal for credit and debit transactions used a scrolling "wait while processing" screen after customer approval or disapproval. The new system however presents a cancel button screen instead of the "wait while processing" screen. Many customers confuse this with a "proceed with transaction" button rather than a "terminate processing" button.

Is there a universal web site where such annoyances can be posted, which manufacture's read? --DeeperQA (talk) 17:34, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

There used to be an interface hall of shame, but the original site went offline. We've got a (partial) mirror on http://interfacehallofshame.eu/www.iarchitect.com/shame.htm - old stuff, but pretty nice reading. Unilynx (talk) 18:11, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

But I wouldn't rely on your manufacturer's reading such a site. If you want to get the system changed, only a direct approach to the supplier is likely to have any effect: how much effect will depend on the supplier and your relationship with them.

Agreed, of course. You need to have the manager communicate with the vendor and ask if they can get rid of the cancel button for you. As for the website question, clientsfromhell.net is kinda-sorta in this vein, but it is mostly web and print designers posting stupid things their clients have said. Comet Tuttle (talk) 19:26, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Political Action Committees (PACs)

I have read the definitions of PACs but nowhere can I find the information that I'm after, to whit: With regard to federal politicians (USA) what happens to the balance, if any, remaining in their PACs when they retire from office? One particlur Senator has over 10 million dollars in his (and he is getting 'long in the tooth,) Thank you. Elmer Borneman Chase, BC. Canada — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.168.144.146 (talk) 19:21, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I think it depends on the PAC's charter and bylaws. In many cases the funds can only be distributed to other political campaigns and PACs on dissolution, but if the charter or bylaws allow, it can go to individual(s). 69.171.160.164 (talk) 21:57, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

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