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Microsoft Wins HTML App Patent

Posted by timothy on from the portfolio-whiplash dept.

crataegus writes "'Microsoft on Tuesday won a patent for launching a certain kind of HTML application within Windows. The patent, "Method and apparatus for writing a Windows application in HTML" (Hypertext Markup Language), describes Microsoft's way of opening up HTML applications in a window free of navigation and other interface elements, known as "chrome," and browser security restrictions.' Why does this sound vaguely familiar?"

5 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. It doesn't bother me! by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "HTML Applications (HTAs) are full-fledged applications," the page reads. "These applications are trusted and display only the menus, icons, toolbars, and title information that the Web developer creates. In short, HTAs pack all the power of Microsoft Internet Explorer--its object model, performance, rendering power, protocol support, and channel-download technology--without enforcing the strict security model and user interface of the browser."

    So it's yet another way for Microsoft to let people call themselves "programmers", without actually having to write code. Big deal.

    I've spent 10+ years writing VB code, and I'm sure everyone will agree that there's a difference -- even in "high level" languages -- between throwing together something that will compile vs. designing a tool that does what your client needs done. Especially when "what your client needs" != "what your client requests".

    As for the security issues... when they say "these applications are trusted", the question is "by whom?" I see another way for skr1pt k1dd1es to invade systems, since all you need to do is convince one non-tech-savvy corporate VP to "trust" that message that says "I Love You, click here!". It's not like J0(ann)3 HaXX0r will be deterred by EULAs and patents.

    It's VBScript all over again. What good is a programming tool when security best practices suggest you turn it off?

    In fact, Microsoft's patent is great news. Hopefully, nobody will be tempted to license the "technology" (read: virus portal) for any other OS.

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  2. Well.. by NotAnotherReboot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Before anyone says anything about when they actually filed it being important, the patent was filed May 20, 1999 while that Mozilla page on Chrome says it was last modified April 7, 1999.

  3. Prior art thread.... by ChangeOnInstall · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Reply to this post if you wrote a web application that used this technique on or before May 20, 1998 (one year before the patent application date).

    (I did, and I'm pretty sure I still have a few of 'em laying around here somewhere).

    And this brings up one more question: Why the F*** did Netscape and MSIE include this capability but for providing developers the ability to do exactly what is described in this patent?

    --
    What has *science* done?!? -- Dr. Weird (ATHF)
  4. Doesn't Turing have prior art?! by bshuttleworth · · Score: 5, Interesting
    OK - Maybe I'm just a cynical b----rd, but at least half the patent refers to storing the HTML and then reading it back. I didn't realise they were hiring MUPPETS at the USPTO.

    The patent basically covers: (from the claims)

    1. Read the file, check it is HTML. If so, then turn in into a bunch of rendering instructions. Otherwise, don't. (seriously - that's 1(a)-(iv))
    2. Claim 2 is claim 1 - nothing to see here.
    3. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 2.
    4. See above, only for claim 1.
    5. Identical to claim 1, more or less. Only this time its an "apparatus", not a "method". Whoopdy-freaking-do.
    6. Claims 7-9: Continue based on what this computer or another computer says. Sometimes write data to a storage medium.


    The BULK of the patent is the idea that HTML can contain Javascript that does stuff. Doesn't everyone and their kitten have prior art on this?



    As if it isn't obvious enough, Claims 1-6 are covered by HTML 2.0. Claims 7-9 are covered (and this is a trivial example, others will surely find better ones) by HTML 4.0 and cousins. And the only reason I don't have earlier references is that they're so bleeding obvious!

    Sigh. Muppets from space.

  5. It does bother me! by Tony-A · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It sounds too much like Microsoft now has a patent on viruses.