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Microsoft, Apple Sued Over Software Update Patent

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stupid-patent-hurt-the-big-guy-too dept.

mark_wilkins writes "Microsoft and Apple have been sued by Teleshuttle Technologies, LLC, alleging that their online software updating technology infringes a patent on providing online updates to software with a menuing system to permit the user to pick the updates. Apparently the work on which the patent is based supposedly goes back to 1990."

8 of 532 comments (clear)

  1. Menuing system by pjrc · · Score: 5, Funny
    with a menuing system

    At least we don't have to worry about "apt-get update" :-)

    --
    PJRC: Electronic Projects, 8051 Microcontroller Tools
    1. Re:Menuing system by FxChiP · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah, I can see it...

      "I am PORTHOLIO! I need GZ for my tarball!" (damn the lameness filter from hell for not letting me use caps...)

    2. Re:Menuing system by ak_hepcat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Webpage? man, i'm just happy that it doesn't include an ascii menu of sofware to download from a BBS, that I haven't installed yet. Like driver updates, or maybe even a new compression engine. Or this PPP thingy and what's this here? NCSA mosiac?

      Phew.

      --
      Support FSF: Stop thinking with your wallet, and think with your imagination. (cc/non-commercial)
  2. US Patent Office! by cartzworth · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where would you like to stifle innovation today?

  3. I think this applies here... by scoot241 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "*Sneeze* Oh, I'm sorry... I'm allergic to bullshit." --Will Smith, "I, Robot"

    --
    Moderation Insight
  4. Re:Gimme a billion dollars, I'm a genius, I swear. by einer · · Score: 3, Funny

    "It has wheels, and it moves forward and backward and can be steered by a person or by some other type of steering control, give me a billion dollars right now, I'm a genius."

    Are you mad? You've just revealed Step 2!

  5. Re:WWIII by mrtroy · · Score: 3, Funny

    I believe World War III will be triggered by fuqing patents.
    If I recall correctly, WWI and WWII were both caused by patents. Sorry, theres prior art to your statement.

    HOWEVER, just throw "online" in there. WWIII will be triggered by ONLINE patents --- new idea!

    --
    [I can picture a world without war, without hate. I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it]
  6. Re:Gimme a billion dollars, I'm a genius, I swear. by OwnedByTwoCats · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh, and don't forget that you can't patent a mathematical algorithm.

    How do you tell if software is patentable, or an implementation of an unpatentable algorithm? You put all your money in a pile. Someone who wants the decision to go the other way puts all their money in a pile. The taller pile wins, and then the lawyers take both piles for themselves.