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MS Buys (Some) SGI Patents

Posted by Hemos on from the render-faster-and-faster dept.

FatRatBastard writes "The Reg. is reporting that Microsoft has purchased the rights to most of SGI's 3D patents. Speculation from the Reg hacks is that MS may want the patents more for crushing OpenGL support than for technology they're building inhouse." Well, crush is strong - but it would give them more leverage with some hardware vendors for sure.

5 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. If you don't like this -- speak up! by Derek · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you really think (as I do) that this is an indication that MS intends to extend its monopoly by squeezing out competing standards and technology, then make your voice heard!

    According to the US law you still have until Jan 28th to comment on the court's final judgement.

    I recommend you take a minute and make sure the US justice department hears your concern.

    -Derek

    1. Re:If you don't like this -- speak up! by Performer+Guy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Good post, here is some related background on Microsoft's suppression of OpenGL.

      http://www.vcnet.com/bms/features/3d.html

  2. Re:John Carmack on Direct 3D by dzym · · Score: 5, Informative

    How about this one.

    A log can change in 5 years, eh?

    I mean, god forbid that Microsoft actually improves their products?

  3. Re:DirectX is actually good now... by MisterBlister · · Score: 4, Informative
    How did this get modded as insightful?

    I happen to think D3D is better than OpenGL currently, if you're doing Windows-only game programming.

    However, D3D isn't 'generally Retained Mode'. D3D dropped its retained mode support (which nobody used anyway, and D3D has always had an immediate mode API) a while ago, back at DX5 or so. Of course, you're free to create your own scene-graph/retained mode API over the current immediate mode API if you like, but it no longer includes that API in the standard SDK.

    D3D used to have D3DRM, OpenGL has Inventor, both are/were retained mode APIs on top of the immediate mode APIs.

    Also, its extremely silly to claim that retained mode means it is better for games? How many games can you name that use a retained mode API?

  4. Re:'crush' OpenGL by TWR · · Score: 4, Informative
    Apple failed to intimidate Microsoft, but they broke Atari whose GEM O/S had a far better user interface as well as multi-tasking.

    Bullshit.

    Read http://www.seasip.demon.co.uk/Gem/History/gem1.htm l. It outlines why Apple sued Atari over GEM/1. Basically, they just copied many interface features from the original Mac: disks on the desktop, trash on the desktop, even down to how icons and the toolbar were shaded. Apple didn't "break" Atari; they demanded Atari change these blatant interface rip-offs, and Atari did. After all of this was settled, there were GEM/2, GEM/3, GEM/4, GEM/5 and later versions under different names. Hardly sounds like "broken" to me.

    -jon

    --

    Remember Amalek.