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Microsoft Loses South Korea Patent Ruling

Posted by Zonk on from the shouldn't-a-company-with-that-much-money-be-smarter dept.

mikesd81 writes "Ars Technica is carrying an article discussing Microsoft's denial for an appeal in a South Korean patent infringement case. The case focused on the automatic translation between English and Korean in Microsoft Office and was brought against the company in 2000. The Supreme Court of South Korea ruled that the patents are effective for technologies switching the input mode between Korean and English." From the article: "Technology firm P&IB, which sued Microsoft on behalf of Professor Lee, wants Microsoft to ante up to the tune of W70 billion ($75 million) in a separate lawsuit covering damages. 'Microsoft adapted our technologies to its Office package without dealing with Prof. Lee and it claimed the patents were not effective in the court,' P&IB President Kim Kil-hae told The Korea Times."

7 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. busted! from TFA, maybe can't sell office by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The article says that this could 'prevent Microsoft from selling Microsoft Office in South Korea'... that's how you stop a monopoly: block it from selling a monopoly product. Fines don't really do anything to Microsoft, but anywhere they are prevented from selling even just one piece of their software blanket is a huge blow to their long-term strategy.

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    1. Re:busted! from TFA, maybe can't sell office by SCHecklerX · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Just don't allow *their* cars to run on the rails while letting others.

    2. Re:busted! from TFA, maybe can't sell office by Hooya · · Score: 3, Interesting

      > Just imagine back in the days of the railroad barons - all right, nobody can ride trains anymore

      well, that analogy is flawed. it implies that if(MS software == railroads && !MS software == automobiles) then { !MS software == (pollution & !efficiency) /* for one */ }

      which, as most of know, isn't true. the analogy works only so far as to establish that by snubbing railroads (cutting off your nose...) we're managing quite well with automobiles. which means that we'll manage just fine without MS software.

      i have a few korean co-workers and i see them using all kinds of korean software that they claim works better than their rivals (a korean antivirus/spamware removing software comes to mind, tho i don't know the name of it). so maybe, just maybe, they already have software that works better in their market and isn't made by MS. there are others that make software too you know.

      i haven't had to use MS software for over 8 years. and i develop software for a living. horses and buggies? if you say so.

  2. Input mode switching by Taagehornet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Are they going to ban Java as well?

    http://java.sun.com/javase/technologies/core/basic /intl/faq.jsp#imf

  3. The patent itself? by Archibald+Buttle · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It would be nice to have some details of the patent involved here. So far I've seen none.

    The summary is also confusing. In one sentence it talks about automatic translation between English and Korean, the next it's about switching the input mode between Korean and English. These would seem to me to be two entirely different things.

    As it stands if this really is concerned with switching input modes, then the folks at P&IB may wish to take a look at Apple's Mac OS X too. Since I'm married to a Korean, I've got my Mac at home set up to accept input in English and Hangul (the Korean alphabet). All I need to do to switch between the two is press Apple-Space. Mac OS X is smart enough to remember which alphabet you were typing in inside different windows too.

    1. Re:The patent itself? by ksoonson · · Score: 4, Interesting

      With this patent, if you type Korean in English input mode, it automatically converts those string into Korean and changes the input mode also to Korean.

      For example, if you type 'eogksalsrnr' by mistake in English input mode, it automatically converts it into Korean.

  4. Re:South Korea is isolating itself by njen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    South Koreans do not blindly support the actions of the leaders in North Korea, they only hope that their countrymen are able to survive the current state of their leaders oppresive control long enough to see freedom. The South Koreans see North Korea as brothers and sisters that will one day find them reunited with each other. Why is it so bad to hope for reunification? Your comments are flamebait as I have never seen any South Korean in support for what the likes of Kim Jong Il has done.

    And what if Microsoft did infirnge on patented technology? Then they must pay the price of that infringement.

    (no, I am not Korean)