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Microsoft's Online Spectator Patent

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the watch-and-learn dept.

Next Generation reports on Microsoft's 5000th patent: an online spectator mode for competitive games. From the article: "The system will allow online viewers who are not involved in actual gameplay to view game highlights and instant replays, as well as let them control camera perspectives. A statement from Microsoft also describes 'A portal such as a Web site to access spectator-related services such as schedules and information on multiple games and events as well as the number of spectators and participants in each. The portal allows the spectator to find the most popular games to watch, preview the action, and then connect to the desired game or event.'"

4 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. XBox port of HLTV? by christian.elliott · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I see no one at Microsoft has every played CounterStrike. This idea just sounds like an XBox port of HLTV. If this patent is only for the XBox version of this system, power to them, they should have control over this. However, if this is an attempt to get the PC Patent for this same idea, they may have another thing coming.

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    Fractured Element
  2. No, the system IS broken. by OmniGeek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I must disagree; the patent system IS broken if it results in the granting of large numbers of invalid patents. The USPTO admits that this is the case, and even admits that their examiners are subject to perverse incentives to let stuff through (though they don't explicitly admit the perversity of this.)

    Defending against a bogus patent in court is WAY beyond the means of most mortals; justice overpriced is justice denied. Preventing worthless patents in the first place is the way the system is intended to work, and getting it back there is, alas, the only real solution to the present idiot situation.

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    "My strength is as the strength of ten men, for I am wired to the eyeballs on espresso."
  3. Re:Anti-patent and proud of it by theJML · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yeah, that's a good idea... I did that too... unfortunatley now there are two things I'm missing out on:

    Income from these ideas
    Proof that I ever had such ideas first

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    -=JML=-
  4. patent defense is expensive by Ender+Ryan · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Defending yourself against a patent claim is expensive. Considering that you don't have to even be making any money to violate a patent, that already means the patent system is not setup to do what it was intended to do, hence, broken.

    Add to that the ridiculous patents being awarded today, and we are completely fucked by this shit.

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    Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden