[boost] Boost and patents

From: Mateusz Loskot (mateusz_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-09-21 10:42:50

Hi,

First, please, forgive me if this subject have been discussed already,
but I couldn't find anything in the lists archives and Boost docs.

Today, my friend was told (warned) on the #c++ IRC channel that
Boost uses some technologies already patented by IBM (and may be other
entities), like RCU or SMR (and may be more).
I have no idea if this is true or not, so I'd like to ask some questions
regarding this warning:

1. Does Boost use any patented technologies?

2. If it does, and for example it uses some in library X,
does it mean I can not use library Y (without copying X) in my program
because of patents-derived restrictions?
In other words, if Boost uses any patented technologies in library X,
does it influence other libraries?
What are implications regarding it?

I appologize if something is not clear, but I'm not a lawyer at all,
so it may be hard for me to express my considerations.
But I hope it's understandable :-)

Thanks in advance for any clarification.

Cheers
-- 
Mateusz Loskot
http://mateusz.loskot.net