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Microsoft Receives XML Patent
gsfprez writes "Well, i'm no patent lawyer, but if I'm reading this right, it seems that the basics of XML are being patented by Microsoft. If not the files themselves - at least what most of us would do with XML files. From the abstract: 'Systems, methods and data structures for encompassing scripts written in one or more scripting languages in a single file.' That smacks of what my config files do on my G5 for my G5, if you read it with a biased eye." We noted this was happening earlier, and now it's finally come to pass. While the patent does sound a bit dubious, a Microsoft spokesman was quick to deny that they'd be so bold as to patent XML itself.
Someone go patent .txt files!
#define struct union
I first read the headline as "Microsoft Receives XML Patent".... oh shit that was the headline.
and they sneak a patent though while we all look for the source code.
The truth about Led Zep should never be told on
Gee. Next thing you know, someone'll patent the "A method for gas exchange by alternate inductions of overpressure and underpressure", aka "breathing".
"They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
<FRUIT>
<ITEM>
<FRUIT NAME>Banana</FRUIT NAME>
<FRUIT DESCRIPTION>Bananas are yellow, and research
has indicated that they are the favorite food of
monkeys.</FRUIT DESCRIPTION>
<FRUIT IMGSRC>012199-banana.jpg</FRUIT IMGSRC>
</ITEM>
<ITEM>
<FRUIT NAME>Orange</FRUIT NAME>
<FRUIT DESCRIPTION>Oranges grow on trees, and are the
main constituent of orange juice.</FRUIT DESCRIPTION>
<FRUIT IMGSRC>012199-orange.jpg</FRUIT IMGSRC>
</ITEM>
<ITEM>
<FRUIT NAME>Strawberry</FRUIT NAME>
<FRUIT DESCRIPTION>Strawberries are a popular fruit
in the Summer months.</FRUIT DESCRIPTION>
<FRUIT IMGSRC>012199-strawberry.JPG</FRUIT IMGSRC>
</ITEM>
<ITEM>
<FRUIT NAME>Tomato</FRUIT NAME>
<FRUIT DESCRIPTION>Tomatoes are a vital constituent
of pizzas and other convenience foods.</FRUIT DESCRIPTION>
<FRUIT IMGSRC>012199-tomato.jpg</FRUIT IMGSRC>
</ITEM>
</FRUIT>
In what CEO Bill Gates called "an unfortunate but necessary step to protect our intellectual property from theft and exploitation by competitors," the Microsoft Corporation patented the numbers one and zero Monday.
n t. htm
With the patent, Microsoft's rivals are prohibited from manufacturing or selling products containing zeroes and ones--the mathematical building blocks of all computer languages and programs--unless a royalty fee of 10 cents per digit used is paid to the software giant.
"Microsoft has been using the binary system of ones and zeroes ever since its inception in 1975," Gates told reporters. "For years, in the interest of the overall health of the computer industry, we permitted the free and unfettered use of our proprietary numeric systems. However, changing marketplace conditions and the increasingly predatory practices of certain competitors now leave us with no choice but to seek compensation for the use of our numerals."
http://www.rfcafe.com/miscellany/humor/1n0_pate
Can piano teachers please patent C# asap?
But...but... its MICROSOFT. And this... this is SLASHDOT.
someone patent the < symbol. Then Microsoft's patent will be useless.
By your definition, it sounds as though the development and innovations that would make farting possible would be impeded, since there would be prior art.
so that patent is putting something inside of xml and making use of it.
wow *puts hands on face in suprise)
Apparently the ??? is: Create software that 95% of the computer users in the world make use of everyday.
I'm wondering what microsoft is going to patent next? I've got a few ideas though:
* Waking up in the morning
* Brushing my teeth (or has someone already got that one?)
* The way I eat my cereal in the morning
(I've got more but I think I've got my idea across)
-This sig has been discontinued after a sudden realization.
the text of the /. headline is a bit misleading.
W H A T W A S T H A T ? ? ?
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//Soviet//Russia" "Very-Strict.dtd">
<patent owner="Microsoft">
You
</patent >
Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
That'll be good news to all those vegetarians that thought it was a breed of cow.
No, no, no. You don't get it at all, do you?
This patent only covers putting both of your examples in the same document.
Totally different and nonobvious dude.
KFG
"Either this is a non-story, or it is woefully misdirected."
This is slashdot so I'll go with the woefully misdirected one.
Doesn't everyone else call this a virus?
-k
Your mind moves quicker than a nun's first curry. - A. Rimmer
Yes, terribly funny.
50 years of bollocks, frivolous lawsuits, waste of taxpayers money, strengthening of monopolies. When will they finally ditch that piece of trash of a law? Oh, wait? Its patents, not war on drugs?
--
"The more prohibitions there are, The poorer the people will be" -- Lao Tse
they think this will stop people from writing XML virusses in the future.
Or maybe it's just part of their business plan. You know...
1. Patent XML files
2. ???
3. Profit!
No, no, this is entirely different. Microsoft is using <code> tags.