Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

More trouble for Microsoft
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050107.html ^ | January 7, 2004 | Cringely, RX

Posted on 01/10/2005 3:24:45 PM PST by Peelod

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last
The implications of this case for A/VOIP are enormous. See Cringely's links page for details.
1 posted on 01/10/2005 3:24:46 PM PST by Peelod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Peelod

What does Burst make, and what does TiVo have to do with it?


2 posted on 01/10/2005 3:28:03 PM PST by glock rocks ( Miss Kitty, the sun hasn't come up on the day that Marshal Dillon can't take care of himself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: glock rocks
I Blog BooksStreaming media?
3 posted on 01/10/2005 3:30:27 PM PST by dr_pat (it's only sarcasm if you don't read too carefully...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: glock rocks

Burst.com holds patents for more efficient transfer of data. Burst contends that this technology is being used without permission in Windows Media Player.


4 posted on 01/10/2005 3:33:10 PM PST by Peelod (Perversion is not festive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Peelod
This is somewhat of an aside, but I am happy Microsoft has firmed up it's spine and is putting more free software out with the release of it's anti-spyware (find it on Microsoft.com) software. The DOJ and Clinton's greatest wag the dog operation had them reeling for a few years, but it looks like they are coming back strong.

I have heard they are going to release a free anti-virus package and I can't wait. Say what you want, but Microsoft does software for the common man, the right way. They make it easy to use and affordable. Bill Gates, you da man!

5 posted on 01/10/2005 3:34:25 PM PST by FreeAtlanta (never surrender, this is for the kids)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Peelod

If MicroSoft figures out the technology, even if there is a patent, can MS use it? pardon my ignorance

PS(I think that its Bursts and Bursts alone if they patented it, but I'm just wondering what the laws are, I'm not a patent lawyer - or a lawyer at all for that matter)


6 posted on 01/10/2005 3:35:29 PM PST by zahal724 (I own a lumber company? Want some wood?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: FreeAtlanta
This is somewhat of an aside, but I am happy Microsoft has firmed up it's spine and is putting more free software out

I hate to be picky, but do you mean no-cost software, or real free software? (I would guess the former. See gnu.org if you don't know what I'm talking about.) I think Richard Stallman is a bit of a crackpot, _but_ he basically called it correct decades ago that the software barons would use the law to control the future.

7 posted on 01/10/2005 3:38:39 PM PST by MIT-Elephant ("Armed with what? Spitballs?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Peelod; dr_pat

Yikes. This is one to keep an eye on. Thanks.


8 posted on 01/10/2005 3:39:38 PM PST by glock rocks ( Miss Kitty, the sun hasn't come up on the day that Marshal Dillon can't take care of himself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: zahal724

Cringely seems to write that Microsoft used information from the non-disclosure agreement to improve WMP. Emails during this period are now missing, hence the spoliation claim.


9 posted on 01/10/2005 3:40:27 PM PST by Peelod (Perversion is not festive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Peelod
Cringely seems to write that Microsoft used information from the non-disclosure agreement to improve WMP

Hmm...that sounds like a case of out-and-out theft. Or more exactly, a sort of information embezzlement.

I'm a pretty freemarket guy, but as an engineer, there have to be laws that keep the individual inventor or small companies safe from behemoths who can sue the pants off anyone to get them to capitulate.

In the mid 90's Intel's legal costs made up 25% (!) of their total budget expenditures.

10 posted on 01/10/2005 3:46:23 PM PST by MIT-Elephant ("Armed with what? Spitballs?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: MIT-Elephant
that sounds like a case of out-and-out theft.

How is code theft viewed at Media Lab?

If you go thru Cringely's old columns, Intel is also involved.

11 posted on 01/10/2005 3:53:36 PM PST by Peelod (Perversion is not festive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Peelod

Isn't Burst the bankrupt company that was bought by a bunch of lawyers years ago? I guess lawyers need to eat, too...


12 posted on 01/10/2005 3:53:45 PM PST by mikegi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MIT-Elephant

I haven't followed this case, so I am not sure if Microsoft is guilty of anything or not. But they do get wrongfully bullied a lot of times, most likely because they are so big, but in a lot of these cases Microsoft did nothing wrong.


13 posted on 01/10/2005 3:55:29 PM PST by bgnn32
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: mikegi

Why would anyone, even a lawyer, buy a bankrupt company.

The company is not listed on the Naz.


14 posted on 01/10/2005 4:00:08 PM PST by Peelod (Perversion is not festive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: zahal724
If MicroSoft figures out the technology, even if there is a patent, can MS use it? pardon my ignorance

Asking is not ignorant; it's simply requesting information. And I'm happy to respond. When you have a new and/or original idea, you can patent it. A patent is a declarion of what your idea is, how it works, and what problems it may solve. You then explain in legal terms (generally, in as vague terms as possible, to thereby have the broadest possible interpretation) how your idea works. The Patent Office studies your patent, and if it is original, or a non-obvious extension to an existing patent; will issue you a patent. If someone else figures out your idea, so what. You now OWN that idea for a period of 7 years (with possible extensions). The gov'ts goal is to protect the inventor, so he may capitolize off an idea. Anyone who uses your idea must do so with your permission, or risk legal infringement and levies. Usually, the court will issue a 'Cease and desist' order; which means that MS will be prohibited from continuing to use the idea from that day forward. As Media Player is a revenue stream for Microsoft, it would be in Microsoft's best interest to work out an 'arrangement'.

As the patent holder, especially if you get a cease and desist order, you can name your own price. You could say "Bill, I want $39 Kazillion, billion dollars paid to me in the form of 1987 nickles.

The idea is to arrange your royalties such that Micorsoft decides it's easier to write a check instead of changing your idea such that they can patent it themselves.

For example, if I patent a tri-cycle; you could patent a bi-cycle. The ideas are similar, but the bicycle is not an obvious extension of a tricycle. If you made your tricycle blue, and mine was red; otherwise they were identical, the change is not patentable. This gets rather abstract quickly. The idea is that if you patent something, and I can improve upon your idea, I can patent it too.

15 posted on 01/10/2005 4:00:14 PM PST by Hodar (With Rights, comes Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: FreeAtlanta
putting more free software out with the release of it's anti-spyware

Microsoft has already declared this will be a subscription service. It won't be 'free' for very long.

16 posted on 01/10/2005 4:00:47 PM PST by JOAT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Hodar
The Patent Office studies your patent, and if it is original, or a non-obvious extension to an existing patent

In theory, that is. In practice, patents have been issued for stuff like "selling products over the Internet".

17 posted on 01/10/2005 4:02:58 PM PST by ThinkDifferent (These pretzels are making me thirsty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: bgnn32

It's Microsoft, that alone tells me they're guilty of something.


18 posted on 01/10/2005 4:06:05 PM PST by newzjunkey (Demand Mexico Turnover Fugitive Murderers: http://www.escapingjustice.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: ThinkDifferent

My favorite Patent Abuse story is the lawsuit against EBay for the "Buy It Now" button


19 posted on 01/10/2005 4:07:35 PM PST by Hodar (With Rights, comes Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Peelod

I have never believed that Microsoft was an evil empire. I love the rich! More power to them. However, isn't Gates a lib?


20 posted on 01/10/2005 4:08:27 PM PST by conservativebabe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson