USPTO Reexam Finds $521M Eolas Patent Valid

theodp writes "As predicted earlier on Slashdot, looks like the W3C goofed by shutting out the public and asking the Patent Office to base its reexamination of the Eolas Web Plug-In Patent solely on prior art promoted by Microsoft. The USPTO has reaffirmed the validity of the $521M patent, rejecting the W3C's prior art as deficient for not demonstrating the capability of ongoing real-time manipulation and control by the user. The USPTO also considered but rejected the prior art of the Viola Browser, which formed the basis for Microsoft's appellate argument. Ironically, Eolas' defense was bolstered by the arguments of its expert witness, 2005 EFF Pioneer Award Winner Ed Felten."

Comments

I forget

[lheal]

Are we for Microsoft because we hate software patents or are we for Eolas because we hate Microsoft?

Congress is too busy worrying about baseball players taking steroids to actually fix the system.

Slashdot EZ Post TM

[Hack Jandy]

Slashdot EeziPost (TM) MK I

[ ] Another: [ ] Dupe [ ] Slashvertisment [X] WTF [ ] $editor is a dork

[X] Frist psot [ ] link to GNAA [ ] Link to goatse [ ] $random_drivel

[X] I Haven't RTFA, but... $random_opinionated_comment

[ ] Slashdotted already!. I bet their server runs on $topic_item too

[ ] Soul_sucking registration required

[ ] Mod Parent [ ] up [ ] Down

[X] Fsck: [ ] SCO [X] Micro$oft [ ] DMCA [ ] DRM [ ] MPAA [ ] RIAA [ ] Google [ ] Bush [X] You all

[ ] I for one welcome our new $topic_item overlords

[ ] Imagine a beowulf cluster of those

[X] In Soviet Russia, $topic_item owns you!

[ ] Meh!

[ ] Netcraft confirms $topic_item is: [ ] dead [ ] dying

[ ] But have the inventors thought of what will happen if $random_amateur_insight

[X] Once again the USA is clamping down on my [X] Amendment rights.

[ ] You insensitive clod

[ ] But people who download music from P2P networks are more likely to buy the album

[ ] Cue DVD Jon-type crack in 3..2..1

[ ] Torrent, anyone?

[ ] Here's a link to a patch: $random_linux_distro_url

[X] Profit!!

[X] Still no cure for cancer

Re:Slashdot EZ Post TM

[Tablizer]

Slashdot EeziPost (TM) MK I - [ ] Another: [ ] Dupe [ ]
[X] Frist psot [ ] Link to goatse ... [X] In Soviet Russia, $topic_item owns you! ....

You must be a real joy on your honeymoon.

Who's side should I be on?

[Anonymous Coward]

Patents are bad, but Microsoft is bad too.

The incongruity of Microsoft fighting a patent and a patent holder attacking Microsoft has caused my Slashdot groupthink implant to asplode.

Quick! Someone tell me how I should think!

As predicted earlier on Slashdot,

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh great oracle, Slashdot. You are so wise. Your insights in to the future are renowned across the land. I beseech thee, please cast your all knowing eye across my destiny and pray tell me when will I get a girlfriend?

Re:As predicted earlier on Slashdot,

[Anonymous Coward]

I am the great Slashdot. I am all user accounts, and yet I am none--I am THE Anonymous Coward. As you have humbly submitted thyself to my greatness, I shall take pity on thee and bestow my answer...

I cannot provide an exact date, but the following events will foretell the coming of a woman in your life:

Microsoft adds support for the OpenDocument format.
SCO realizes the error in their ways and open sources Unix.
A full year will pass here on Slashdot without a single dupe.
Duke Nukem Forever will be released.

As a final blessing, I foresee that you will meet this woman though the relationship services provided by Googlezon's EPIC system.

Re:As predicted earlier on Slashdot,

[Anonymous Coward]

Ah, the Oracle knows all answers... and, taking pity on your lack of knowledge, I will gladly assist you:

[bold, echoing voice]
Your mod points have been acquired by someone yet more powerful than thee.
[/bold, echoing voice]

And, by the way, you owe the Oracle 1 mod point for the answer.

Money Can't Buy You Love...

[LotsaCaffeine]

But it can get you a nice patent settlement.

Hey Eolas!

[Chordonblue]

Party in Middle Earth tonight! You're buying!

Signed,

Frodo and Gimli

Re:As long as they don't attack Open Source

[Anonymous Coward]

...and then, the aliens will attack (because they like to kick us while we're down) ...

Lets abstract it a level...

[nmoog]

[X]Hilarious slashdot humour-form post with relevant options ticked.

the eolas name

[timmarhy]

is it just me or does eolas remind you of ebola? a highly infectous virus that rips the guts out of all bodies it infects, and produces nothing useful just kills everything.