Subject: [TS] Re: Patent issued for TheBrain
From: Andrius Kulikauskas (ms@ms.lt)
Date: Mon Mar 13 2000 - 17:04:46 EST
Just want to share my two cents. I'm including:
- my letter to our laboratory's working group on an import/export
standard for software for organizing thoughts, passing along Michael's
ideas.
- Michael's original letter to me
- my reply to Michael's letter
Andrius Kulikauskas
Director
Minciu Sodas Laboratory
http://www.ms.lt
ms@ms.lt
+1 (619) 298-7019 until April 29th in San Diego, California
Hi, Michael Simcich approached me with regard to his concerns about
TheBrain, LLC having patents that would hinder the development of UI.
In general, I share his concerns - where do we draw the line? What's
the logic behind copyrighting translations of the Bible, behind
patenting genes? I have no idea of the extent of TheBrain's patents and
assume they simply serve a protective purpose.
Our real concern is to accomplish endeavors, and until something gets in
the way - such as patent law actually threatening us - I think we have
our own constructive work to do. On the other hand, I think Michael's
thoughts are very helpful so that we are sensitive to obstacles others
may face. This kind of thinking has lead to our laboratory's emphasis
on the public domain and also the need for an import/export standard. I
must mention that our agreements with both TheBrain, LLC and MindJET,
LLC, by mutual request, insist that the work of our laboratory is in the
public domain.
Michael has placed his letter and article in the public domain, which I
share, along with my response. He looks forward to becoming a member.
Andrius
Michael Simcich
msimcich@accesstools.com
**********************
Hi Andrius -
I've been lightly following your work with Minciu Sodas for about a year
(Jerry Michalski told me about your work). I've got a general interest
in
the same topic areas, and so thought that it would be interesting to
hear
what your take is on the patent issued for the Brain. Personally, think
it
has the potential to be a major hinderance in UI development. So much
for
one of my favorite software firms...
And I know that Minciu Sodas has some sort of relationship with
Natrificial.
This sort of puts you in an interesting position. I can't see any way
that
the fact that this patent may raise "significant barrier to entry for
companies considering developing similar technology" (per their press
release) is at all in the spirit of your groups efforts.
.....
**********************
Dear Michael,
Thanks for your letter and interest in our efforts.
I'd like to share your letter with our working group. Would you
place it in the public domain? Also, would you give permission to share
your article with our working group? I'd emphasize that you retain
copyright.
Briefly, the Minciu Sodas laboratory is devoted to caring about
thinking, and to get things done we work aggressively as a lobby. I
think TheBrain, LLC (no longer called Natrificial since their last
round of venture capital funding) has shown itself to be progressive and
farsighted in many ways. You are right that they are very protective of
their intellectual property, which they spent five years
developing.
Microsoft, the leader in UI, is not very
considerate, so such protectiveness is understandable. Microsoft
Outlook, delivered for free as part of the Microsoft Office suite, drove
the leading free form PIM, NetManage ECCO, out of business, even though
Outlook had no comparable functionality for organizing free form
information,
at least that people actually use.
I believe that things from God - including the human mental
interface - should not be patented. God wins out in the end, of course
I don't know how. I think those who try too hard to take claim on such
things will find themselves ignored - or destroyed by their own hands.
Just a bit of fire and brimstone to put things in perspective.
Your letter is valuable help, because we can use it to help make
the case for the standard, if you place it in the public domain. I
invite you to work with us as a member of our laboratory. You'll be
able to keep TheBrain, LLC on their toes. I don't know anything about
what they have the patent to, but we could help you find more out.
Another way to look at it is to focus on what we want to
accomplish, and then worry whether those patents keep us from doing
that.
You can a member for free by helping us. A good place to start to
become a member is to fill out Raimundas Vaitkevicius' survey, "Do you
organize your thoughts?" at:
http://www.ms.lt/ms/projects/tooluses/990608surveyen.html
Thanks!
Andrius Kulikauskas
Director
Minciu Sodas Laboratory
http://www.ms.lt
ms@ms.lt
+1 (619) 881-2667
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