7 ms·

In a recent job interview I was asked to code a doubly linked list as part of the coding part of the interview. Linked lists are patented, did me implementing

by pootch 14y ago

In a recent job interview I was asked to code a doubly linked list as part of the coding part of the interview. Linked lists are patented, did me implementing this break the law?

sh_vipin 14y ago
Is it ?? what is the patent number.
- woodchuck64 14y ago
  US7028023? (http://www.google.com/patents?id=Szh4AAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=false http://www.google.com/patents?id=Szh4AAAAEBAJ&printsec=a...)
  - pjscott 14y ago
    That only covers linked lists that have multiple "next" pointers, so you can traverse it in more than one order. It's still stupidly obvious, but does not cover singly-linked lists.
    - jlgreco 14y ago
      Pootch was asked to implement a doubly linked list, ie a linked list with axillary pointers that allows an alternative transversal.
      - pjscott 14y ago
        Ah, I misread. In that case it is claimed by that patent, but this almost certainly wouldn't hold up in court, because there's so much prior art for doubly-linked lists. This situation would be laughable if it weren't backed up by the force of law.
        vvhn 14y ago
        How does answering an interview question violate/infringe any patent (valid or invalid). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_infringement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_infringement states " The definition of patent infringement may vary by jurisdiction, but it typically includes using or selling the patented invention. In many countries, a use is required to be commercial (or to have a commercial purpose) to constitute patent infringement.[citation needed] "
        beambot 14y ago
        Perhaps it could be an example of indirect (contributory) infringement if the company used his interview solution in a product (ie. he facilitated their infringement)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contributory_patent_infringement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contributory_patent_infringemen... Pretty unlikely in this case, but I can think of interviews where I had the same concern. MegaCorp posed a problem they were having (eg. preventing radar self jamming), I told them one solution I knew of, but I was very careful to point out that it was patented less they turn around and use it. So I share the parent's question: Can you be held liable for infringement due to a job interview answer?
        admax88q 14y ago
        Patents are not trade secrets. There's nothing illegal about communicating the contents of a patent.
  - vvhn 14y ago
    That seems to be specific way of traversing Linked Lists (which ostensibly is different than all the other ways it has been done in textbooks, published code etc.) , not Linked Lists themselves. If you find a way of traversing a list in a way that has not been done before you can apply for a patent fort that technique. If i were to use that technique of traversing linked in a product that i sell, you could sue me. However, if came up with that particular, specific way of traversing a linked list in an interview, no patents are violated anywhere. That's just silly.
    - sethrin 14y ago
      I. Software is mathematics. II. Mathematics are not patentable. >> Software is not patentable. Pick a premise and argue against it. Or, don't bother: you and the US legal system are in an argument against reality. It's not a winnable argument, but sense can take a long time to percolate through obstinate stupidity.
      - vvhn 14y ago
        i'm not arguing for or against patents on software, mathematics or otherwise. I'm just saying that answering an interview question about how a particular thing might be done is not in violation of any patent laws. Replace "method for traversing linked lists" with "a new technique for cutting wood using a new tool" if you feel so strongly about software patents.
      - sh_vipin 14y ago
        That's what I believed too.
- mistercow 14y ago
  Here's one: 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=7028023.PN.&OS=PN/7028023&RS=PN/7028023 http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sec... If you read the claims, doubly linked lists are a special case. However, the prior art for doubly linked lists goes back decades.
  - johnarras 14y ago
    And this is a special case of a directed graph.

by pootch 14y ago

In a recent job interview I was asked to code a doubly linked list as part of the coding part of the interview. Linked lists are patented, did me implementing this break the law?

sh_vipin 14y ago

Is it ?? what is the patent number.

woodchuck64 14y ago
US7028023? (http://www.google.com/patents?id=Szh4AAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=false http://www.google.com/patents?id=Szh4AAAAEBAJ&printsec=a...)
- pjscott 14y ago
  That only covers linked lists that have multiple "next" pointers, so you can traverse it in more than one order. It's still stupidly obvious, but does not cover singly-linked lists.
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    Pootch was asked to implement a doubly linked list, ie a linked list with axillary pointers that allows an alternative transversal.
    - pjscott 14y ago
      Ah, I misread. In that case it is claimed by that patent, but this almost certainly wouldn't hold up in court, because there's so much prior art for doubly-linked lists. This situation would be laughable if it weren't backed up by the force of law.
      - vvhn 14y ago
        How does answering an interview question violate/infringe any patent (valid or invalid). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_infringement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_infringement states " The definition of patent infringement may vary by jurisdiction, but it typically includes using or selling the patented invention. In many countries, a use is required to be commercial (or to have a commercial purpose) to constitute patent infringement.[citation needed] "
        beambot 14y ago
        Perhaps it could be an example of indirect (contributory) infringement if the company used his interview solution in a product (ie. he facilitated their infringement)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contributory_patent_infringement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contributory_patent_infringemen... Pretty unlikely in this case, but I can think of interviews where I had the same concern. MegaCorp posed a problem they were having (eg. preventing radar self jamming), I told them one solution I knew of, but I was very careful to point out that it was patented less they turn around and use it. So I share the parent's question: Can you be held liable for infringement due to a job interview answer?
        admax88q 14y ago
        Patents are not trade secrets. There's nothing illegal about communicating the contents of a patent.
- vvhn 14y ago
  That seems to be specific way of traversing Linked Lists (which ostensibly is different than all the other ways it has been done in textbooks, published code etc.) , not Linked Lists themselves. If you find a way of traversing a list in a way that has not been done before you can apply for a patent fort that technique. If i were to use that technique of traversing linked in a product that i sell, you could sue me. However, if came up with that particular, specific way of traversing a linked list in an interview, no patents are violated anywhere. That's just silly.
  - sethrin 14y ago
    I. Software is mathematics. II. Mathematics are not patentable. >> Software is not patentable. Pick a premise and argue against it. Or, don't bother: you and the US legal system are in an argument against reality. It's not a winnable argument, but sense can take a long time to percolate through obstinate stupidity.
    - vvhn 14y ago
      i'm not arguing for or against patents on software, mathematics or otherwise. I'm just saying that answering an interview question about how a particular thing might be done is not in violation of any patent laws. Replace "method for traversing linked lists" with "a new technique for cutting wood using a new tool" if you feel so strongly about software patents.
    - sh_vipin 14y ago
      That's what I believed too.
mistercow 14y ago
Here's one: 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=7028023.PN.&OS=PN/7028023&RS=PN/7028023 http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sec... If you read the claims, doubly linked lists are a special case. However, the prior art for doubly linked lists goes back decades.
- johnarras 14y ago
  And this is a special case of a directed graph.