MS Files For NZ Patent On XML Word Processor Files

heretic108 writes "A patent application is currently being examined in New Zealand, which if granted, would bar anyone except Microsoft from using an XML file format for storing Word Processing documents. In contrast to copyrights, patents allow even the most elementary concepts to be patented. Apparently, nobody here is diligently watching out for such ridiculous patents, so the official deadline for submitting objections has passed. This suggests a likelihood that the patent may well be granted. I am not endeared to the thought that I might be breaking the law when I use OpenOffice.org to write documents, especially since the concept of storing docs in an XML format was certainly not thought of by Microsoft, so have written a formal complaint to my Member of Parliament. Hopefully there'll be a public outcry within New Zealand."

Comments

Prior art, film at eleven

[dacarr]

Other word processors do XML, and have been doing it. It can probably be overturned.

prior

[TheSHAD0W]

Web pages are, in essence, word-processed, and they were one of the first demonstrated uses of the XML format. They include all the features word-processed documents would require, including formatting and font information. I can't see how any judge could overlook this as prior art.

Without the details, this story is pointless

[Smack]

The title of a patent is worthless. Patents are all about the implementation, and we know nothing about what Microsoft is claiming here.

Honestly, the story rebuts itself:

"Without knowing what is in the patent in detail means it is somewhat difficult to provide a meaningfull objection. "

Why a deadline?

[Nucleon500]

The public missed the deadline for doing the patent examiners' job, so another stupid patent will probably be granted. But why is there a deadline in the first place?

Complaints ought to be listened to both before and after the patent is granted. If obvious (OO.org) examples (*.sx?) of prior art are found, the patent office ought to revoke the patent, even if it's already been granted. If the company (patent owners are always companies, hmm...) doesn't like it, they should have to sue.

Is this even possible?

[polyp2000]

I am assuming that someone somewhere already holds a patent for the XML markup language.

The whole point of XML as i see it is to enable information interchange easily on a wide range of software platforms, packages and over the internet. Correctly formed XML not only contains data but it should also contain markup that describes how the data is stored, allowing anyone to read/write to the XML document.

Im guessing that the person who filed the original patent for XML would have made statements towards this effect. Would this not create a conflict between the two patents?

In any case the audacity of Microsoft never ceases to amaze me and this outrageous current application shows that we really need more techies in the right places. They cannot be allowed to continue to abuse the system in this way, taking advantage of people who know no better.