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USPTO Reexam Finds $521M Eolas Patent Valid

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the coming-to-pass dept.

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."

2 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. I remember now. by trentfoley · · Score: 0, Redundant

    1) We hate Eolas because we hate software patents.
    2) We hate Microsoft because we hate proprietary software.

    Concerning Congress, steroids, and fixing the system -- I am at a total loss. I've never read or heard of Congress successfully fixing anything. I do recall many events to the contrary.

  2. Only leaves us to ask more questions... by supergeekmake-it-so. · · Score: 0, Redundant

    So where do we go from here?

    It seems the patent office is going to dictate symantics and who gets paid for them. It boggles the mind to belive someone should have a patent for the "single-click" http://www.eolas.com/technology.html use of a hyperlink. Does that also mean that I need to rush out and try to get the patent on the wheel, or the @ symbol in email addresses?

    While I don't claim to be an expert in patent law, it seems that things are continuing on the path of certain destruction. Call me a naysayer, or whatever you like, but something needs to change.