http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL
&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,650,331.PN.&OSPN/7,650,331&RS=PN/7,650,331



The USPTO granted a patent to Google today for MapReduce, after several
rejections.  I'm no patent expert; how does this affect Hadoop?

I have heard that Google generally get patents to protect themselves rather
than to enforce them. Google don't have any publicly available way to make
money off of map-reduce (even Google App Engine does not map-reduce
capability yet) so I would imagine they would be fine with Hadoop. Fingers
crossed.

Kind regards,
Peter Sankauskas

Motally, Inc
Office: +1 (415) 932-6898
On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 11:55 AM, Travaglini, Joseph <
Joseph.Travaglini@fmr.com> wrote:

> http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL
> &p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,650,331.PN.&OS> PN/7,650,331&RS=PN/7,650,331<http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL%0A&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,650,331.PN.&OS=%0APN/7,650,331&RS=PN/7,650,331>
>
>
>
> The USPTO granted a patent to Google today for MapReduce, after several
> rejections.  I'm no patent expert; how does this affect Hadoop?
>
>

Here's some more info:

http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/01/googles-mapreduce-patent-what-does-it-mean-for-hadoop.ars

It will be nice to get some official announcement from Apache Hadoop team
regarding future of Hadoop.

- A very scared Hadoop Fan :(
On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 12:43 PM, Peter Sankauskas <peter@motally.com>wrote:

> I have heard that Google generally get patents to protect themselves rather
> than to enforce them. Google don't have any publicly available way to make
> money off of map-reduce (even Google App Engine does not map-reduce
> capability yet) so I would imagine they would be fine with Hadoop. Fingers
> crossed.
>
> Kind regards,
> Peter Sankauskas
>
> Motally, Inc
> Office: +1 (415) 932-6898
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 11:55 AM, Travaglini, Joseph <
> Joseph.Travaglini@fmr.com> wrote:
>
> > http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL
> > &p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,650,331.PN.&OS> > PN/7,650,331&RS=PN/7,650,331<
> http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL%0A&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,650,331.PN.&OS=%0APN/7,650,331&RS=PN/7,650,331
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > The USPTO granted a patent to Google today for MapReduce, after several
> > rejections.  I'm no patent expert; how does this affect Hadoop?
> >
> >
>

On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Something Something
<mailinglists19@gmail.com> wrote:
> Here's some more info:
>
> http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/01/googles-mapreduce-patent-what-does-it-mean-for-hadoop.ars
>
> It will be nice to get some official announcement from Apache Hadoop team
> regarding future of Hadoop.
>
> - A very scared Hadoop Fan :(

don't worry

every substantial application has a very large probability of patent
infringement

sooner or later, software patents will have to be abolished

- robert

On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM, Robert Burrell Donkin
<robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Something Something
> <mailinglists19@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Here's some more info:
>>
>> http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/01/googles-mapreduce-patent-what-does-it-mean-for-hadoop.ars
>>
>> It will be nice to get some official announcement from Apache Hadoop team
>> regarding future of Hadoop.
>>
>> - A very scared Hadoop Fan :(
>
> don't worry
>
> every substantial application has a very large probability of patent
> infringement

basically, no company that uses software can enforce a software patent
against any tech major due to mutually-assured destruction through
software patent armageddon. lots of tech majors use hadoop ergo google
would be MAD to use the patent.

- robert

I tend to second that - nothing to worry about: http://gigaom.com/2010/01/19/why-hadoop-users-shouldnt-fear-googles-new-mapreduce-patent/.

Evert Lammerts
________________________________________
From: Robert Burrell Donkin [robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 11:10 PM
To: general@hadoop.apache.org
Subject: Re: Google Patent on MapReduce

On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM, Robert Burrell Donkin
<robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Something Something
> <mailinglists19@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Here's some more info:
>>
>> http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/01/googles-mapreduce-patent-what-does-it-mean-for-hadoop.ars
>>
>> It will be nice to get some official announcement from Apache Hadoop team
>> regarding future of Hadoop.
>>
>> - A very scared Hadoop Fan :(
>
> don't worry
>
> every substantial application has a very large probability of patent
> infringement

basically, no company that uses software can enforce a software patent
against any tech major due to mutually-assured destruction through
software patent armageddon. lots of tech majors use hadoop ergo google
would be MAD to use the patent.

- robert

The patent covers only the implementation, but not the programming model. If Google enforces, Hadoop could change its implementation to get around. The independent claims 1 and 9 have too many "wherein" clauses that, if Hadoop just changes one aspect, it can get around the claim language.

http://huanliu.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/googles-mapreduce-patent-and-its-impact-on-hadoop-and-cloud-mapreduce/

-Huan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Evert Lammerts [mailto:Evert.Lammerts@sara.nl]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 2:12 PM
> To: general@hadoop.apache.org
> Subject: RE: Google Patent on MapReduce
>
> I tend to second that - nothing to worry about:
> http://gigaom.com/2010/01/19/why-hadoop-users-shouldnt-fear-googles-
> new-mapreduce-patent/.
>
> Evert Lammerts
> ________________________________________
> From: Robert Burrell Donkin [robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 11:10 PM
> To: general@hadoop.apache.org
> Subject: Re: Google Patent on MapReduce
>
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM, Robert Burrell Donkin
> <robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Something Something
> > <mailinglists19@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Here's some more info:
> >>
> >> http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/01/googles-mapreduce-
> patent-what-does-it-mean-for-hadoop.ars
> >>
> >> It will be nice to get some official announcement from Apache Hadoop
> team
> >> regarding future of Hadoop.
> >>
> >> - A very scared Hadoop Fan :(
> >
> > don't worry
> >
> > every substantial application has a very large probability of patent
> > infringement
>
> basically, no company that uses software can enforce a software patent
> against any tech major due to mutually-assured destruction through
> software patent armageddon. lots of tech majors use hadoop ergo google
> would be MAD to use the patent.
>
> - robert

This message is for the designated recipient only and may contain privileged, proprietary, or otherwise private information.  If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original.  Any other use of the email by you is prohibited.

Are you in Los Angeles?

-----Original Message-----
From: huan.liu@accenture.com [mailto:huan.liu@accenture.com]
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 11:28 AM
To: general@hadoop.apache.org
Subject: RE: Google Patent on MapReduce

The patent covers only the implementation, but not the programming model. If Google enforces, Hadoop could change its implementation to get around. The independent claims 1 and 9 have too many "wherein" clauses that, if Hadoop just changes one aspect, it can get around the claim language.

http://huanliu.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/googles-mapreduce-patent-and-its-impact-on-hadoop-and-cloud-mapreduce/

-Huan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Evert Lammerts [mailto:Evert.Lammerts@sara.nl]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 2:12 PM
> To: general@hadoop.apache.org
> Subject: RE: Google Patent on MapReduce
>
> I tend to second that - nothing to worry about:
> http://gigaom.com/2010/01/19/why-hadoop-users-shouldnt-fear-googles-
> new-mapreduce-patent/.
>
> Evert Lammerts
> ________________________________________
> From: Robert Burrell Donkin [robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 11:10 PM
> To: general@hadoop.apache.org
> Subject: Re: Google Patent on MapReduce
>
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM, Robert Burrell Donkin
> <robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Something Something
> > <mailinglists19@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Here's some more info:
> >>
> >> http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/01/googles-mapreduce-
> patent-what-does-it-mean-for-hadoop.ars
> >>
> >> It will be nice to get some official announcement from Apache Hadoop
> team
> >> regarding future of Hadoop.
> >>
> >> - A very scared Hadoop Fan :(
> >
> > don't worry
> >
> > every substantial application has a very large probability of patent
> > infringement
>
> basically, no company that uses software can enforce a software patent
> against any tech major due to mutually-assured destruction through
> software patent armageddon. lots of tech majors use hadoop ergo google
> would be MAD to use the patent.
>
> - robert

This message is for the designated recipient only and may contain privileged, proprietary, or otherwise private information.  If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original.  Any other use of the email by you is prohibited.

Software patents are not recognised nor enforcable in European Union member states (UK, France, Germany, Belgium etc.). The Apache license v.2.0 states:

"This License shall be governed by the law of the jurisdiction specified in a notice contained within the Original Software..."

Do you know which jurisdiction you chose for the Hadoop MapReduce implementation - seems to me to be relevant? I don't find a reference to a jurisdiction in release 0.20.1?

-----Original Message-----
From: Lori Ann Martin [mailto:lmartin@altair.com]
Sent: Fri 1/22/2010 8:31 PM
To: general@hadoop.apache.org
Subject: RE: Google Patent on MapReduce

Are you in Los Angeles?

-----Original Message-----
From: huan.liu@accenture.com [mailto:huan.liu@accenture.com]
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 11:28 AM
To: general@hadoop.apache.org
Subject: RE: Google Patent on MapReduce

The patent covers only the implementation, but not the programming model. If Google enforces, Hadoop could change its implementation to get around. The independent claims 1 and 9 have too many "wherein" clauses that, if Hadoop just changes one aspect, it can get around the claim language.

http://huanliu.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/googles-mapreduce-patent-and-its-impact-on-hadoop-and-cloud-mapreduce/

-Huan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Evert Lammerts [mailto:Evert.Lammerts@sara.nl]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 2:12 PM
> To: general@hadoop.apache.org
> Subject: RE: Google Patent on MapReduce
>
> I tend to second that - nothing to worry about:
> http://gigaom.com/2010/01/19/why-hadoop-users-shouldnt-fear-googles-
> new-mapreduce-patent/.
>
> Evert Lammerts
> ________________________________________
> From: Robert Burrell Donkin [robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 11:10 PM
> To: general@hadoop.apache.org
> Subject: Re: Google Patent on MapReduce
>
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM, Robert Burrell Donkin
> <robertburrelldonkin@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:07 PM, Something Something
> > <mailinglists19@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Here's some more info:
> >>
> >> http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/01/googles-mapreduce-
> patent-what-does-it-mean-for-hadoop.ars
> >>
> >> It will be nice to get some official announcement from Apache Hadoop
> team
> >> regarding future of Hadoop.
> >>
> >> - A very scared Hadoop Fan :(
> >
> > don't worry
> >
> > every substantial application has a very large probability of patent
> > infringement
>
> basically, no company that uses software can enforce a software patent
> against any tech major due to mutually-assured destruction through
> software patent armageddon. lots of tech majors use hadoop ergo google
> would be MAD to use the patent.
>
> - robert

This message is for the designated recipient only and may contain privileged, proprietary, or otherwise private information.  If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original.  Any other use of the email by you is prohibited.