Microsoft Applies to Patent RSS in Vista

Cyvros wrote in with a link to Wired's Monkey Bites blog, which is featuring a post on Microsoft applying for a patent on RSS. As the article points out, this isn't as crazy as it seems at first blush. From the wording of the application, post author Scott Gilbertson interprets their move as a patent on RSS only within Vista and IE7. From the article: "The big mystery is what Microsoft is planning to do with the patents if they are awarded them. The sad state of patent affairs in the United States has led to several cases of Microsoft being sued for technologies they did arguably invent simply because some else owned a generic patent on them. Of course we have no way of knowing how Microsoft intends to use these patents if they are awarded them. They could represent a defensive move, but they could be offensive as well -- [self-described RSS inventor Dave] Winer may end up being correct. It would be nice to see Microsoft release some information on what they plan to do with these patents, but for now we'll just have to wait and see whether the US Patent and Trademark Office grants them."

Comments

Linux ?

[slashthedot]

Linus should patent both RSS and Atom in Linux before anyone else does.

Aw, but... but.....

[radarsat1]

Everyone was so *happy* when they decided to actually play nice and use an established icon for RSS.

Why would they turn around and piss everyone off?
WHY??

Oh wait... it's MS. Nevermind. Business as usual.

so hey.. does this mean Firefox will have to exclude that feature in upcoming Vista builds?

I can see it now:

#ifndef _MS_VISTA_ // patent crap.
Links.AddLiveBookmark();
#endif

Re:Who has Microsoft actually sued

[Waffle Iron]

Who has N. Korea actually nuked? Actual cases and not the 'OMG they might nuke us' screeching please.

Re:That is not patent for RSS

[mavenguy]

Correct, this is NOT claiming RSS; in fact it contemplates being used for Atom, too.

It's just providing a system-wide API for syndicated content, which might be any source, RSS only being one. Not saying it's patentable, of course, just that it is not intended to cover RSS itself.

Re:they don't have to

[Timesprout]

So you are saying your inability to cite an instance of Microsoft suing, or even threatening to sue is clear evidence that this is exactly what Microsoft are actually doing. Thats just fucking brilliant. Rumsfeldian logic at its best.