Neowin.net

Documentation for Developers and Modest Changes in Software Will Minimize or Eliminate Impact on Consumers and Address Issues Raised by Aug. 11 Ruling While Appeal Moves Forward

Microsoft Corp. today announced how it will respond to the August jury decision in the Eolas patent lawsuit. The steps include modest changes to Microsoft® Windows® and Internet Explorer as well as measures that Web developers and others who use Internet Explorer technology can take to ameliorate or eliminate the impact of the ruling. Microsoft is providing full documentation for these changes to help guide Web developers and other developers that use its Internet Explorer technology to create the best possible user experience. Other companies providing specialized documentation related to this change are listed on the Web site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/ieupdate/.

"This ruling affects more than just Microsoft; it affects a broad array of partners and customers -- including companies that many would view as competitors," said Michael Wallent, general manager of the Windows Client Platform at Microsoft. "Microsoft has been very proactive in reaching out to this group to develop steps that will reduce or eliminate the ruling's impact on consumers and other companies, even as we appeal it."

"Microsoft and Macromedia have worked together for years to deliver great Web experiences," said Norm Meyrowitz, president of products, Macromedia. "Together, we have developed a straightforward solution that should result in little impact for our mutual customers."

View: View Internet Explorer Changes
News source: Microsoft PressPass

The unit's mission was to look at IT security in the field and provide computer forensic capability to search for hidden files, emails and erased information on the hard drives of seized computer equipment.

Pringle, whose day job is as a senior security consultant for consultancy Boldon James, said the unit recovered around 5,500 items of media and 2.2TB of data. It has since handed over all ongoing case files to the US-led Iraq Survey Group.

During the operation, said Major Pringle, the unit "discovered a lot less use of the internet and email systems than we expected, due to sanctions and a culture of distrusting distributed information.

"A lot of computers were glorified typewriters, but we did discover some personally owned high-end machines owned by senior Iraqis."

He added that the unit also found "evidence of companies trying to beat sanctions".

The software, EnCase Version 4 from US-based Guidance Software, was able to search for key words in Arabic. The hardware had to "withstand desert conditions of extreme heat, sand and wind".

Apart from "taking more sunscreen", Pringle said the unit would do some things differently in the event of a similar operation, but that "85 to 90 per cent of the task we got right.

"We applied similar principles towards a commercial IT project, but you can't plan for everything. Next time we'd be more prepared for older media."

Pringle also underlined the army's ongoing need for better communications systems.

"We were with a US outfit because we were part of the coalition, but secure communications back to the UK would have helped," he said.