Microsoft will find itself in dock (again) today when the patent infringement case brought against it by little-known, privately owned technology developer Eolas comes to the US District Court for Eastern Illinois.
At the heart of the case is a patent granted to the University of California but administered by Eolas, a firm set up in 1994 the inventors of the technology described in the patent to capitalise upon it. Indeed the Regents of the University of California are named as joint plaintiffs in the case. The patent in question is number 5,838,906, entitled 'Distributed hypermedia method for automatically invoking external application providing interaction and display of embedded objects within a hypermedia document'. Filed in October 1994, the patent was granted in November 1998. Essentially it describes how a user can use a web browser to access and execute a remotely stored program object that has been embedded in a web page.
Eolas contends that Microsoft's ActiveX technology does just that and more to the point does so without Eolas' permission. Its 1999 suit originally named Windows 95 and 98, and Internet Explorer as offending items, and demands they be banned from sale. Those versions of Windows have long been superseded, but Eolas may yet add other versions of the operating system to its complaint. The suit also seeks unspecified damages from Microsoft based on sales of those products within the US and outside it. Microsoft tried to have the judgement on the level of damages restricted to US sales only, but the case judge, James B Zagel, recently denied that motion.
News source: The Reg
At the heart of the case is a patent granted to the University of California but administered by Eolas, a firm set up in 1994 the inventors of the technology described in the patent to capitalise upon it. Indeed the Regents of the University of California are named as joint plaintiffs in the case. The patent in question is number 5,838,906, entitled 'Distributed hypermedia method for automatically invoking external application providing interaction and display of embedded objects within a hypermedia document'. Filed in October 1994, the patent was granted in November 1998. Essentially it describes how a user can use a web browser to access and execute a remotely stored program object that has been embedded in a web page.
Eolas contends that Microsoft's ActiveX technology does just that and more to the point does so without Eolas' permission. Its 1999 suit originally named Windows 95 and 98, and Internet Explorer as offending items, and demands they be banned from sale. Those versions of Windows have long been superseded, but Eolas may yet add other versions of the operating system to its complaint. The suit also seeks unspecified damages from Microsoft based on sales of those products within the US and outside it. Microsoft tried to have the judgement on the level of damages restricted to US sales only, but the case judge, James B Zagel, recently denied that motion.
News source: The Reg
Although the Sponsor included with Plus! is not a trojan at all, many people dont understand the concept. The LOP.com software included with Plus! IS ad-ware, and patchou states "If you boycot Messenger Plus! because of the sponsor, your an idiot", And many of his senior users agree. Patchou further states "There's only one checkbox to uncheck during installation and you'll never hear about the sponsor. The sponsor is optional. I'll never force anybody to install that kind of thing on their computer (you can mark my words)". Everyone doesnt seem to understand that unchecking the box does not install the sponsor.
Patchou further states AGIAN how to remove it in case of accidental installation, "For those of you who installed the sponsor by mistake and want to get rid of it, uninstall Messenger Plus!. It WILL uninstall the sponsor program (some files will be removed only after reboot)." Some users even favor the sponsor. I asked patchou what he would tell a user before installing Plus!, this was his response, "It just helps me live, that its not a trojan or a spyware.. it just delivers some ads on your computer and youre free to remove it whenever you want".
Longtime Plus! User Joon says "Its not that bad, as long as its optional and PPL READ be4 they install something". Patchou requests before ANYONE post's that Plus! is a trojan, they should understand what the word means.
News source: Patchou's Statement
I will patent today: 'A method to make car fly', sit and wait that an auto-maker eventualy make it and sue them.
When are they sueing Sun for web based Java Applets BTW
They won't sue Sun because Sun doesn't have 40 billion in the bank. These days it less about the technology and "integrity" and it's more and more about the 'Benjamins'.
If they were going to be "fair" they would have sued Sun as well. Of course they might claim Java doesn't violate the patent while ActiveX does. Then again, the University of California at Berkley is where UNIX originated as well... Gee, I wonder if they're a bunch of anti-MS people...
I own the patent for patenting stuff!
good idea
* Scientific theories
* Mathematical methods
* A literary, dramatic, artistic or musical work
* A presentation of information
* A scheme, rule or method for performing a mental act, playing a game or doing business, or a program for a computer
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