[wellylug] new MS software patent application

[Centurion Computer Technology Ltd]

I thought the FAT patent got overturned??

On Sat, 2004-11-20 at 16:01 -0800, Brent Wood wrote:
> --- Jethro Carr <dodocaptain at paradise.net.nz> wrote:
> 
> > okay,
> > 
> > this is the most stupid thing I ever saw...
> > 
> > It'll never get approved. It's been in use in all programming language
> > since the start of computers.
> > 
> > Only Microsoft would try something like this...
> 
> Hmm, Kodak just won their lawsuit with Sun over a comparably fundamental
> software patent (in JAVA), SCO tried it with bits of the Linux kernel,
> Compudigm are trying it here in NZ with a very broad patent on software
> interpolation of data and Tektronix are sueing virtually every gaming software
> company for infringing their patent on rendering 3D images in 2D (ie: on
> screen). MS did win their FAT one & got an ongoing revenue stream.
> 
> So such patents are simply good business. The patent lawyer who did so much
> work for IBM a few years ago getting their patent business profitable has just
> been hired by MS. (& I dunno how true it is, but it seems likely, that IBM is
> the world'd largest patent holder)
> 
> The nasty thing is, international enforcement of such patents may be via the
> WTO, so MS could legitimately call for trade sanctions against countries which
> permit patent infringements to occur.
> 
> One of the best metaphors I've seen is the comment, "imagine if Prof Tolkien
> had patented the entire fantasy genre, intead of just copyrighting his work".
> That is very much the situation we seem to be in with software patents.
> 
> So I don't think MS are the only ones in ths game, and it is unfortunately not
> in the realms of fantasy, even tho that isn't patented :-)
> 
> > 
> > Imagine trying to enforce it if it got approved :-) 
> 
> 
> See the result of the FAT patent. MS is doing very well out of that. As FAT is
> behind the filesystems used in cell phones, memory sticks & digital cameras, MS
> won their patent, then went to Sony, Nokia, etc & licenced them at around 25cUS
> per item. 
> 
> They made it cheaper to pay them than fight it, got a nice ongoing revenue
> stream & found a new direction :-(
> 
> 
> Unfortunately, it is all too believable, and in line with current trends.
> 
> 
> B
> 
> 
-- 
        Daniel Reurich
        Centurion Computer Technolgy Limited
        
        Ph: (04) 565 1832
            (021) 797 722
            
        email: centurion at paradise.net.nz