>> I was under the impression that things like (for example) the API for
>> DirectX is patented.

> Actually.. No. An API is an "interface". The underlying way that it goes 
> from, "I gave it this data", to, "It gave me this result", is what is 
> patented, not the API itself.

Really? Interesting. What underlies the API calls is obviously subject 
to _copyright_ protection, but I didn't think you could _patent_ 
executable code. However, I thought that you *can* patent an API.

> Otherwise emulating **anything**, 
> including the BIOS, which you need to do things like DOSBox, would be 
> illegal too.

Only illegal if the BIOS interface is patented. (AFAIK, it isn't.) The 
actual BIOS code in any given motherboard has copyright protection 
[usually], but then it only works with one given motherboard anyway...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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