[wellylug] Microsoft's at it again...

Brent Wood pcreso at pcreso.com
Wed Mar 16 07:50:45 NZDT 2005


--- Jethro Carr <jethro.carr at jedolinux.com> wrote:
> hi all,
> 
> those of you on the NZOSS list, may have read this:
> http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=5&ObjectID=10115247
> 
> Basicly, the NZ Patent system has accepted a patent from Microsoft, for
> the process of using appliations to read and write xml files.
> 
> A quick search in google, would have quickly revealed, that fact that
> this is obviously prior art (openoffice, is just one of many) and a
> common, open standard on the internet.

I haven't really been following it that closely, but as I understand it, the
patent is for the MS XML implementation, not all XML implementations.

But also note that "prior art" is not a reason for not granting a patent in NZ,
it doesn't really require originality either. You can just about get away with
being the first to apply, even if the idea you are patenting is someone else's.

The Compudigm patent application is a similar case, except that a concerned
consortium is opposing it (after they checked to see if they could claim the IP
& have or share the patent themselves).

Patents & software are not a good fit. Patents these days are just a means for
large corporations to make $$ & stifle competition & innovation.  


Brent




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