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Question of the Day: Have you had to buy RAM, SSDs, or a new PC since the prices skyrocketed?
Microsoft files patent suit against TomTom
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
Hemels.
I think the IP protection systems need to be transformed, *especially* for IT-related IP.
I cannot understand how one can patent algorithms (often prior art), and even less can I understand how a company can patent vague all-encompassing things like:
"Methods and Arrangements for Interacting with Controllable
Objects within a Graphical User Interface Environment Using Various Input Mechanisms"
or
"Portable Computing Device-integrated Appliance"
or
"Vehicle Computer System with Wireless Internet Connectivity"
or
"Vehicle Computer System with Open Platform Architecture"
WTF is this?
I think the IP protection systems need to be transformed, *especially* for IT-related IP.
I cannot understand how one can patent algorithms (often prior art), and even less can I understand how a company can patent vague all-encompassing things like:
"Methods and Arrangements for Interacting with Controllable
Objects within a Graphical User Interface Environment Using Various Input Mechanisms"
or
"Portable Computing Device-integrated Appliance"
or
"Vehicle Computer System with Wireless Internet Connectivity"
or
"Vehicle Computer System with Open Platform Architecture"
WTF is this?
stoke
Honorary Master
Now, let this be a good lesson to you young business people, before even opening your mouth, you are expected to know every patent ever registered, and every line ever copyrighted and every symbol ever trade-marked.
Nevermind every law issued by the ever changing governmint and every local-law enacted by hasty mayors on the local municipal front as well as all the daily rubbish that is gazetted in parlimint.
Bollocks.
Nevermind every law issued by the ever changing governmint and every local-law enacted by hasty mayors on the local municipal front as well as all the daily rubbish that is gazetted in parlimint.
Bollocks.
If they can patent things "Portable Computing Device-integrated Appliance" then *anything* that one can create or think of is probably patented, just because patents have such broad definition.
I remember (can't find the quote, but IIRC it was in the Economist) that when Adobe bought Macromedia (after they first sued them for patent infringement) Bruce Chizen admitted that they had no real reason for taking Macromedia to court other than to "slow then down a bit".
Microsoft seems to have the same high level of ethics, e.g. happily use other people's code in things like Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition, but beware any company that creates a "Vehicle Computer System with Wireless Internet Connectivity" that isn't Microsoft's.
[edit: The Economist quote available at http://ciaran.compsoc.com/software-patents.html#inst2 ]
[edit2: Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition / opensource at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Open-Source-Code-Finds-Way-into-Microsoft-Product/ ]
I remember (can't find the quote, but IIRC it was in the Economist) that when Adobe bought Macromedia (after they first sued them for patent infringement) Bruce Chizen admitted that they had no real reason for taking Macromedia to court other than to "slow then down a bit".
Microsoft seems to have the same high level of ethics, e.g. happily use other people's code in things like Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition, but beware any company that creates a "Vehicle Computer System with Wireless Internet Connectivity" that isn't Microsoft's.
[edit: The Economist quote available at http://ciaran.compsoc.com/software-patents.html#inst2 ]
[edit2: Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition / opensource at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Open-Source-Code-Finds-Way-into-Microsoft-Product/ ]
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Arthur
Honorary Master
MS guilty before anyone knows the facts.
Lesson for budding entrepreneurs: Just make sure you're not too successful with your business - your competitors will run to governments, make wild accusations, and the world will turn against you.
Lesson for budding entrepreneurs: Just make sure you're not too successful with your business - your competitors will run to governments, make wild accusations, and the world will turn against you.
> MS guilty before anyone knows the facts.
Go read the complaints Microsoft filed, and please explain to me how such broad patents are good, ethical, ways to protect IP and that this isn't just a way to get just get Tom Tom in court. (http://media.techflash.com/documents/tomtomComplaint.pdf)
Also explain how a litigious attitude equals success, I don't get it.
I'm typing this on a non-Microsoft system that also translates 8.3 [edit: file]names BTW. Whoop whoop!
Go read the complaints Microsoft filed, and please explain to me how such broad patents are good, ethical, ways to protect IP and that this isn't just a way to get just get Tom Tom in court. (http://media.techflash.com/documents/tomtomComplaint.pdf)
Also explain how a litigious attitude equals success, I don't get it.
I'm typing this on a non-Microsoft system that also translates 8.3 [edit: file]names BTW. Whoop whoop!
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Arthur
Honorary Master
The filing does not include the detailed argument or evidence, but simply heads.
Microsoft is one of the least litigous IT companies in history.
True, good point @ no real arguments or evidence. I still feel that the heads are extremely broad definitions though, but yes, the devil is in the details.
Why do you say least litigious? Or, rather, who are you comparing against
Why do you say least litigious? Or, rather, who are you comparing against
Takkies
Well-Known Member
+1