Kodak vs. Sun Java Trial Date Set

sirshannon writes "CNET News.com.com.com.com is reporting that the Kodak vs. Sun trial date has been set for September 15. Kodak claims that Java infringes on 3 patents they hold and have been trying to "resolve" the issue for 4 years or so. More info here."

Comments

patents

[jlechem]

Everyone knows patents are bad blah blah blah but let's take a look at these patents in question.

5,206,951 - Integration of data between typed objects by mutual, direct invocation between object managers corresponding to object types

5,421,012 - Multitasking computer system for integrating the operation of different application programs which manipulate data objects of different types

5,226,161 - Integration of data between typed data structures by mutual direct invocation between data managers corresponding to data types .

This just looks like object oriented programming to me. So how can they sue SUN over Java. I was under the impression you couldn't patent things like this.

Re:Oak existed before 1993

[servoled]

To bad the 1993 and 1995 dates are meaningless as far as prior art is concerned. The important dates are the filing dates and priotity dates, the issue date does not matter. All three patents have priority to United States patent application Ser. No. 07/088,622 entitled Data Integration by Object Management by Dana Khoyi et al., filed Aug. 21, 1987.

So, for an item to qualify as prior art, it must be data prior to August 21, 1987 which by the dates you have given, Oak does not meet.