A Lawyer's View on the OpenGL Patent Mess

PDAJames writes "This article has an interesting take on Microsoft's claims on OpenGL technology. An IP lawyer says that Microsoft could make things difficult for OpenGL if they feel like it, basically. "

Comments

Incredible Insight!

[maynard-lag]

Can you believe that since Microsoft owns some of the patents that went into OpenGL, they can *gasp* make life difficult for implementers of OpenGL?! Boy it's a good thing we have those lawyers to keep us straight.

Re:Incredible Insight!

[Catskul]

I really dont understand why the parent was modded as funny. It is a serious point.

Re:Incredible Insight!

[MrResistor]

I really dont understand why the parent was modded as funny. It is a serious point.

Because it's funny that the parent was moderated as funny, just as it's even more funny that your response to the funny moderation was in turn moderated as funny, and that's pretty funny!

Re:Incredible Insight!

[bigjocker]

Because it's funny that the parent was moderated as funny, just as it's even more funny that your response to the funny moderation was in turn moderated as funny, and that's pretty funny!


What the crap??? you were moderated as Funny too !!! Now it's time for JonKatz to post to this thread, he could get some mod points for himself !!!

Re:Incredible Insight!

[guck]

Perhaps an additional mod of "Ironic" would be beneficial here.

Ah, but then, +1 or -1?

(aha! no! 0 - then it could be recursively ironic!)

Re:Incredible Insight!

[FooBarWidget]

I'm sure this one would not get rated as Funny.

Swap Shop

[Roger W Moore]

Actually I was interested to read that MS might be willing to swap IP licenses for OpenGL allowing them to get into the OpenGL market place without the usual expensive startup costs.

Prehaps this could indicate that they are interested in getting involved with OpenGL and not just shut it down.

Re:Here we go again.

[Col. Klink (retired)]

Yes, but if you had already taken a gun to school and shot 12 people and were let go, it might be reasonable to assume you might try again.

Re:OpenGL's future

[PacoTaco]

Great, now we can replace the "BSD is dying" thread with "OpenGL is dying." :)

Re:Read this too

[thoughtcrime]

[jarjar]
MESA OpenGL gonna die?
[/jarjar]

Re:How to Take Over the 3D Industry in a Ten Steps

[Dalroth]

Sorry, your list was VERY good, however I have to make a few small adjustments to the end of it since I believe you missed one key point. My changes are in bold towards the end.

1. Get computers to the point where 3D is a possiblity - Done
2. Get computers to the point where 3D is common - Done
3. Notice a competitor/3rd party owns the dominant 3D standard - Done
4. Develop your own standard (Direct3D maybe?) - Done
5. Refine it to the point where it's actually useable - Done
6. Help make many of the important features of modern 3D and get it in competitor/3rd party's standard - Done
7. Point out that you have patents/etc on those parts of the standard and that you will charge large licensing fees on using that standard - In Progress
8. Use fee to strangle the competing standard - To Be Done
9. Now everyone is forced to use your software for 3D if they don't want to pay tons of license fees - To Be Done
10. Watch as competing platforms (let's call them Fruit Computers, and Penguindynamics) die under licensing fees becase you refuse to put your royalty-free API on their platforms - To Be Done
11. Begin charging fees to your current customers (since they no longer have a choice) - To Be Done
12. Laugh maniacally all the way to the bank (again) - The Ultimate Goal

See how simple that was?

Talk to Microsoft

[red_gnom]

Com on guys, let just ask Microsoft politely to contribute to the Open Source community. I am sure they will understand. After all every major company contributes.