Feds reject Eolas browser patent

Reuters via CNET News.com ^ | March 5, 2004 | Reuters

[Bush2000]

Feds reject Eolas browser patent
Last modified: March 5, 2004, 3:48 PM PST By Reuters

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has invalidated a claim to Web browser technology central to a case against Microsoft, a move that could spare the software giant from paying more than half a billion dollars in damages, according to documents obtained on Friday.

The patent agency's preliminary decision, if upheld, also means that Microsoft will not be required to make changes to its Internet Explorer Web browser that would have crippled the program's ability to work with mini-programs that work over the Internet, such as the QuickTime and Flash media players.

Last year, an Illinois jury delivered a $521 million verdict against Microsoft for infringing on technology developed by a privately held firm, Eolas Technologies, and the University of California.

"We have maintained all along that, when scrutinized closely, this patent would be ruled invalid," Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler said in a statement.

Desler said that Eolas has 60 days to respond to the decision and that the agency's ruling was "just one step in their review process, but clearly a positive step."

[philetus]

Who needs IE, I got

Firefox - The Browser, Reloaded

Firefox is a free, open-source and cross-platform web browser for Windows, Linux, MacOS X and other operating systems. It is small, fast and easy to use, and offers many advantages over other web browsers, such as the tabbed browsing and the ability to block pop-up windows. Read the full feature list or download Firefox 0.8 now.

http://texturizer.net/firefox/index.html

[Future Useless Eater]

ONE PERCENT of $521 million goes a long way toward bribing
peons in the patent office.

[Nick Danger]

ONE PERCENT of $521 million goes a long way toward bribing peons in the patent office.

Nyaa, that one deserved to die. What they described doing (embedding code in the data stream) was done in the IBM 3270 tubes of 30 years ago. They didn't invent squat, they just got a clever patent lawyer to write a real purty application.

[The Duke]

Microsoft must have caught someone at the patent office when they were between medications?

[Bush2000]

Firefox - The Browser, Reloaded...

You do realize that this isn't a suitable place to place a commercial advertisement, right?

[Prime Choice]

Firefox - The Browser, Reloaded...

You do realize that this isn't a suitable place to place a commercial advertisement, right?

You do realize that FireFox is given away for free and not for sale, right? And you do realize that your definition of "commercial advertisement" is looking kind of silly right now, right?

[ikka]

Eolas never invented anything and were just trying to tap into a lucrative market, without doing any work.

Back in the days when Ford and GM were just getting started, a clever lawyer tried to figure out a way to apply for a patent that while not an internal combustion engine, would cover enough of the design that would cause ANY internal combustion engine to be in violation. He put it through and got it, then came after folks for the money, GM paid it, Ford refused to... and Ford was right to do that!

[thedugal]

From the link you provided:

Get the Mozilla CD!
Get Firefox on CD for only US$5.95.
Order yours today »

you really asked for that one...

[Prime Choice]

Excuse me, but the CDs are for sale, NOT the browser.

You were saying?

[BJungNan]

You do realize that FireFox is given away for free and not for sale, right? And you do realize that your definition of "commercial advertisement" is looking kind of silly right now, right?

I did not take it as a commercial, just a tip. Seen many post on here just like it. Some have been great tips, other, well, they were recommending some new funky browser thingy :) And you know I'm just having some fun with that last part.

[chainsaw]

ping for later perusing.

[zeugma]

Congrats to microsoft on this win. This patent deserved to die. The patent office needs to take a much closer look at other recent patents that are similarly bogus.

[zeugma]

You do realize that this isn't a suitable place to place a commercial advertisement, right?

You're so funny...

Mozilla

• For web browsing, email, HTML editing, IRC chat, and more
• Built with your privacy and security in mind
• Stop popups and junk mail
• Open multiple web pages in the same window with tabbed browsing

See also, The Extension Room for a wide variety of extensions for use with Mozilla applications. My personal favorites:

• LiveHTTPHeaders for closer examination of web server dialogs.
• Flash Click To View - Does exactly what it says. Replaces Flash animations with a button that you press if you want to view the flash. Great for annoying websites.
  
• PrefBar - adds some useful tools to a toolbar, including User Agent spoofing.

[Snuffington]

Firefox - The Browser, Reloaded

I'm using Firefox right now. Terrific brower.

But if I'm not mistaken, this patent would have affected all browsers. Microsoft was just the deep pocket target of the suit. Don't remember why I think that. I'll have to see if I can find some background.

[Nick Danger]

a clever lawyer tried to figure out a way to apply for a patent that while not an internal combustion engine, would cover enough of the design that would cause ANY internal combustion engine to be in violation.

Was his last name by any chance "Gore"?

[Nick Danger]

this patent would have affected all browsers. Microsoft was just the deep pocket target of the suit.

That's true. Macromedia probably would have been next. Mozilla.org doesn't have any dough, so they wouldn't interest lawyers.

Speaking of Macromedia, Flash is going to turn out to be a big deal in undermining the influence of Big Media. Have you seen any of the "Internet TV ads" going around on FR? Freeper jmstein has done several on Kerry, and there are some more out there now. This is the beginning of "every man a broadcaster," which -- like blogs -- will produce a mountain of trash but also some impressive things that have a big impact.