Interesting read about goings on over at One Infinite Loop. Essentially, an outside developer built a modification for the Android operating system that allows it to run more efficiently. Google then sent a cease-and-desist request to that developer since some of the code he was using was proprietary to Google. The Android user community is largely siding with the developer as are several Google developers frustrated by their own legal team for stifling innovation that will ultimately benefit the Android platform.
More than anything, the issue here is the murkiness of Our Modern World. The legal team shouldn’t be faulted for doing what legal teams are traditionally supposed to do, in this case protecting intellectual property. Trick is, this is all happening in an arena with very little tradition.
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