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Two Strikes for Eolas Plug-In Patent

Posted by simoniker on from the no-bunting-allowed dept.

theodp writes "The USPTO has handed Microsoft a second victory in a dispute over a browser plug-in patent that could roil the Web if upheld, rejecting arguments by Eolas and the University of California that technologies cited as prior art by Microsoft and its W3C allies that persuaded the USPTO to open a reexam were irrelevant. Separately, Microsoft is attacking Eolas and the UC on a second front, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals to overturn a $565 million judgment, this time based on prior art that's completely different than that which it urged the USPTO to consider and the W3C to stand behind."

18 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. I knew it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    we do have a pay-as-you-go government!

  2. And the winner is... by numist · · Score: 5, Funny

    "We pay our lawyers more."

  3. Re: A Summary for your lazy slashdotters.. by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 4, Funny

    But on this topic, we LIKE what Microsoft is doing. Forcing the USPTO to re-examine some tech patents. We hate stupid patents more than we hate Microsoft.

    I think.

    --
    Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
  4. Re:Yay by theparanoidcynic · · Score: 5, Funny

    Only this time, and for the first time . . . . well ever they're fighting for the forces of good.

    The enemy of my enemy . . . is still my enemy but I'd rather they get shot at instead of us. ;)

    --
    Only in a Slashdot fantasy can a Slackware install turn into several hours of sex . . . . .
  5. Wait a second by jeffkjo1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, wait a second, I thought we only liked Microsoft on odd Tuesdays.

    1. Re:Wait a second by subterfuge · · Score: 5, Funny

      I learned long ago that you need not like the people you are sleeping with...

    2. Re:Wait a second by EvilCabbage · · Score: 3, Funny

      I learned long ago that you need not like the people you are sleeping with...

      Yeah, you can tell they don't like you either in the way they just snatch the money.

  6. Microsoft knows about 'prior art'.. by CmdrTostado · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was sure no-one on the microsoft patent team was aware of the fact that patents are not supposed to be awarded on something that has sufficient 'prior art'. If they know this then why.... oh, nevermind.

  7. Re:Yay by Otter · · Score: 4, Funny

    For anyone who attended a UC school and has bitter memories of writing check after check to "UC Regents", Microsoft has to seem like the lesser of two evils here. Although I confess to amusement at the thought of Bill pulling out his checkbook and having to write "Pay to the order of: UC Regents...uhhhh...five hundred sixty five million and 00/100 dollars". Maybe they'll tack on the "athletics fee", too.

    --
    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  8. Re:Power Play by stubear · · Score: 2, Funny

    What the fuck are you talking about? Microsoft does NOT have a patent on plug-in technology, Eolas does. They sued Microsoft for violating their patent (and only Microsoft I might add, though other browsers use thew same patent). Microsoft filed a complaint with the USPTO to have the patent reviwed and then tossed out due to volumes of prior art. The W3C and Tim Berners Lee, to name a couple, even came out on Microsoft's side of this one. Their concern is if the patent is upheld, Microsoft will be forced to change the way they handle plug-ins, invariably "breaking" hundreds of thousands of sites at a minimum, and by proxy "breaking" the internet itself. If anyone is stifling technology it's Eolas. I really hope someone mods your post down to "-1: fucking moron".

  9. Mixed Emotions by xjimhb · · Score: 3, Funny

    This story reminds me of the classic definition of "mixed Emotions" ... watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your new Cadillac!

    --
    Teen Angel - a Ghost Story
    1. Re:Mixed Emotions by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 3, Funny

      Just make sure they're both insured first. Mothers-in-law have much less trade-in value.

  10. Re:Good to hear by sr180 · · Score: 4, Funny
    I dont know, I want the Evil Patent to destroy the Evil Company, but I want the Evil Company to destroy Evil Patents. Maybe I can hope for a matter-antimatter type relationship and they'll both disappear?

    --
    In Soviet Russia the insensitive clod is YOU!
  11. now that's a new one by Trepidity · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Microsoft and its W3C allies"...

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  12. Lemme get this straight... by JFMulder · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft... in a fight to preserve standards... against evil patents... they do have prior art... meaning they innovated...

    As Keanu would put it : Whoa.

  13. Re:Perhaps patent law should be like trademark law by Fuzzle · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's the "uniqueness" of an idea that makes it an investable item, though. It actually works great, except when it gets to software.

    ...and the cotton gin.

  14. Re:Perhaps patent law should be like trademark law by Dorsai65 · · Score: 2, Funny

    There you go! Fluffy martinis!

    --
    --- Asking inconvenient questions for over 30 years...
  15. Re:Perhaps patent law should be like trademark law by dbIII · · Score: 2, Funny
    This idea that you can sit on patents until someone else is making millions on the same idea and then pounce on them is ridiculous.
    Perhaps we should gif up on the idea of software patents, so many of them are broken.