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Company Files Motion to Stop IE Distribution

Posted by simoniker on from the twenty-seconds-to-comply dept.

RobHornick writes "According to CNET News, Eolas Technologies, a company that's already won a patent infringement judgement against Microsoft regarding Internet Explorer, has filed a motion to stop Microsoft from distributing its IE software until they remove Eolas' patented technology for running plug-ins, or pay up for a license."

4 of 580 comments (clear)

  1. And whose fault is that? by Magic+Thread · · Score: 0, Troll
  2. Re:Give it up, MS! by AmishSlayer · · Score: 0, Troll
    I'm sorry but this will not effect open source and geeks.

    All mozilla needs to do is have code like the following:
    bool obeyEolaPatent = true;

    ....

    if(obeyEolaPatent)
    {
    ...
    }
    else
    {
    ...
    }
    and any geek can recompile it and run it... I am sure most of us have a friend who can do it for us if we are not able to.
  3. Re:Between a rock and a hard place by shadowbearer · · Score: 0, Troll


    Real Justice?

    In this country?

    WhoTF are you kidding?

    SB

    --
    It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
  4. Re:Seriously, guys... by TrombaMarina · · Score: 0, Troll

    I think you are right on the money. Having 17 year patents in an industry that practically re-invents itself every 2-5 years is ridiculus. Not to mention that what's bad for Microsoft in this case is worse for the rest of us. Microsoft will just replace 3rd party plug-ins with "built-in's" such as (you guessed it) Powerpoint, Word, and Excel. Instead of downloading Mozilla for free to see your favorite web page, you will need to buy Microsoft Office.

    In many ways, this decision might actually be good for Microsoft! If Microsoft buys this company, it could be the end of browser and plug-in wars for the next 8 years or so.

    Substituting "built-ins" for optional "plug-ins" will probably make browser downloads many times bigger than they already are. Plus, it kills a whole segment of the tech market (one that Microsoft had effectively not entered). So long Acrobat, Flash, Quick-Time and client-side Java. Most major web sites will have to be completely revamped - as will all the processes that update them. January suddenly seems right around the corner! As someone-else pointed out, unemployment for Web Developers is officially over.

    P.S. Let's hope a very different jury hears the SCO case.