Z:gnu-www-ja-stallman-mec-india--ef69bf-Well, the first thing is you h/en

Well, the first thing is you have to find out about the patents that might potentially affect your area. This is impossible, because patents that are in the pipeline, being considered by the patent office, are secret. Well, in some countries they are published after 18 months but that still gives plenty of time for them to be secret. So you might develop a program this year, which is perfectly legal and safe this year. And then next year, a patent could be issued and all of a sudden you could be sued. It happens. Or your users could get sued.