Microsoft Tweaks Browser to Avoid Liability

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Microsoft is changing the way its Web browser handles certain controls in an effort to shield itself from liability in an ongoing patent spat with a start-up backed by the University of California.

The software giant is notifying Web developers and other partners on Friday that it is changing the way Internet Explorer handles certain Web programs, known as ActiveX controls and Java applets. With the change, Web developers will need to slightly modify their pages or consumers will have to make an extra click to get to some content, such as for a Macromedia Flash-based advertisement.

"We think that the user experience impact is relatively modest," said Michael Wallent, a general manager in Microsoft's Windows-client unit. Microsoft will incorporate the new version of Internet Explorer into all new copies of Windows and also into the next version of the browser, IE 7, which will be available for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and as part of Windows Vista. Existing users may also get the new code as part of future security updates, Wallent said.

News source: C|Net News.com

(3 replies) #1 icecaveman on 04 Dec 2005 - 22:46

Before you start your Microsoft bashing please understand most other browsers violate this patent as well, including yours truly Firefox.

Good to see Microsoft comply with this, I doubt anyone else will...

#1.1 mr_demilord on 05 Dec 2005 - 07:16

Remember the Mozilla foundation doesn't earn money from this feature, Microsoft corporation does so it's logical only Microsoft was seud to the court.
Mozilla is keeping out of shot.

#1.2 Computer Guru on 05 Dec 2005 - 13:51

Last I checked, illegal was illegal, for profit or for pride, its all the same....

#1.3 mikeyj on 05 Dec 2005 - 16:26

I agree with Computer Guru especially since illegal actions and the laws don't distinguish between for profit and for non-profit. I like Mozilla too, however it sounds like this situation is simply geared to stifle innovation and and singling out Microsoft.

(2 replies) #2 urfage on 05 Dec 2005 - 03:33

To: #1
No one else has to comply because Eolas promised not to sue any other infringers of this patent

I wish that this suit would have been dismissed a long time ago, these kind of patents stifle innovation.

#2.1 Computer Guru on 05 Dec 2005 - 13:48

so its basically Eolas hitting on Microsoft...

#2.2 Ideas Man on 06 Dec 2005 - 02:18

Yeah, where you been living all your life? Everybody sues Microsoft because of the money. Nobody sues for the good of the consumer. Why do you think Mozilla isn't being attacked? They infringe on the 'patent' also, but they got no money to steal so they get left alone, quite gimp if you ask me, especially considering this is a lawsuit that should have been filed some 6 years ago, but they (like most others) wait until Microsoft has this massive fortune and so it's easier to get larger sums of money.

#3 jivemastert on 05 Dec 2005 - 14:49

This is just outrageous because it's not like MS makes any money off of IE... it comes with the friggen operating system. Sure, it's integrated and so forth, but you can remove it. It's not like you can go to the store and buy a copy of internet explorer. Eolas is a bunch of money hungry jackasses... if their idea was so great how come they didn't make anything of it? Maybe instead of people coming up with ideas and patenting them and then sticking them in a drawer, they should do something to implament their idea instead of taking the money from companies who actually did the ****ing work to begin with. That is why I loathe software patents.

edit...
just realized the swear filter isn't working yet, so I did it manually.

#4 ShiZZa on 07 Dec 2005 - 08:09

True but when this lawsuit is done MS has the right to counter sue, The other company should have never said they were only going to sue MS. Cause if MS dose this and still has to pay out money im sure they will counter sue, hell they might even be able to non-profits for the money they lost. Don't know how counter sueing works but im sure its sneaky.

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