Microsoft WMV In Patent Trouble?

thpr writes "According to rethink, Microsoft may be violating patents in their Windows Media software. Apparently, the VC1 standard (from The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), which has been pushed by Microsoft, depends on patents owned by other companies - more than likely, those that have patents used in the previous MPEG standards. According to the sources in the story, both Sony and Philips may take the case to court, rather than continuing negotiation. As they point out in a later update, Sony might be pleased to have a say in the competing HD-DVD format. Is this a 'major speed bump to Microsoft's dominance of digital media markets'?" Well, the answer, IMHO, is probably not - this is a negotiation issue. But this is a wonderful example of how intertwined legal & software issues can become.

Comments

Not really

[Captain Splendid]

But this is a wonderful example of how intertwined legal & software issues can become.

Woderful is not the word I would use here. Nightmare. Catastrophe. SNAFU.

But not wonderful.

MS and EU software patent law

[S3D]

Well, now Microsoft have something to think about in reagrd it's pushing for EU software patent law....

Re:Closed source

[Anonymous Coward]

Statement of generic Microsoft criticism. Scorn-filled diatribe against anyone trying to make a buck off software. Heaping of accolades upon anything open-source. Disparagement of Cowboy Neal

(insinuation of smallness relative to Bill Gate's genitalia)

--

Pithy sig.

Mi no hablo espaniol.

[Anonymous Coward]

>If only terrorists use WMV then who uses Quicktime in this little universe anyway?

Oh that's easy... gay terrorists.

Just imagine!

[Jugalator]

Imagine there's no patents,
It's easy if you try,
No lawyers around us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
developing in joy...

Imagine there's no lawsuits,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to fight or pay for,
No worries too,
Imagine all the people
hacking code in peace...

Imagine no copyrights,
I wonder if you can,
Nothing to support greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of geeks,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Re:Just imagine!

[rifftide]

I'm not surprised at this new discovery... people keep underestimating George Martin's contribution to the success of the Beatles.

Re:S/w or h/w patent

[Anonymous Coward]

In Europe, where software patents aren't yet valid, how does this apply?

It just means that US users can't mail each other European pr0n clips without a license.

It would be wonderful...

[Anonymous Coward]

If Clippy was animated using WMV technology.

I can see Clippy on the stand right now...

[Lawyer] So Clippy, how is it you can animate yourself into interesting and rude shapes?
[Clippy] I see you are trying to cross-examine me. Would you like me to show you how?

The RIAA has been notified

[nganju]

You're getting slapped with a suit for copyright infringement. Did you think you could just use that song however you wanted? What kind of world do you imagine we're in?

If you can't beat 'em...

[squirrelist]

Sounds like Microsoft may inadvertantly be in the market to purchase Sony and/or Philips.

Re:Law = Software

[Rattencremesuppe]

Once machines get an inkling of intelligence and truly autonomous decision-making, then there will be NO difference between software and law.

If law was software, it'd be the most inefficient, resource-wasting, bug-ridden piece of code ever.

Easy, just put DRM on the codecs

[ewg]

Sounds like a DRM opportunity to me:

We're sorry, Microsoft Corporation does not have permission to execute the Windows Media Video codec at this time. Please try again later.

Re:Closed source software could harbor stolen code

[dual_boot_brain]

Not if it was replaced with an exact replica...

Re:Very tempting

[idontgno]

I believe in the case of Microsoft it's Live by the sword, live a good long life!

In which case, the motto of Microsoft's legal team is "Go for the eyes, Boo, GO FOR THE EYES!"