Intel Patents 'Multiplying Two Numbers'

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-patent-uspto-cryptography,12614.html#xtor=RSS-181

by sushumna • 15 years ago

18 5 15 years ago

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obtino• 15 years ago

Intel's patented a variation on the Karatsuba algorithm. It hasn't simply patented 'multiplying two numbers' as stated!

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatsuba_algorithm

JoachimSchipper2• 15 years ago

That said, the (original) algorithm is well-known and even novel algorithms shouldn't be patentable.

arethuza• 15 years ago

"even novel algorithms shouldn't be patentable"

Even though I have a couple of patents to my name I am generally against software patents, sometimes I think that for genuinely novel algorithms there should be an exception (e.g. RSA encryption). However, as there is clearly no way of objectively defining what a "novel" algorithm is (i.e. there is no algorithm for it) we can't really have this exception.

So yes, I would agree that algorithms should not be patentable.

mattmanser• 15 years ago

Still an algo for multiplying two numbers. Also invented by someone else (hence the name) in the 60s.

Can't actually see the patent since the patent site's down.

Intel Patents 'Multiplying Two Numbers'

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