Microsoft Applies to Patent RSS in Vista

Posted by Zonk on Saturday December 23, 2006 @07:38AM from the don't-jump-the-rails-just-yet dept.

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."

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DEAR GOD! by Stevecrox · 2006-12-23 13:22 · Score: 0, Redundant

Company A develops a process to do a particular thing, this process isn't that obvious (well it ain't to me) they apply for a patent. People cheer as a patent goes through and uses the US patent system properly (unlike the overbroad and ambigious patent descriptions which are rife in the system.)

Now lets try that again, Microsoft develop a way of dealing with RSS feeds for Vista its new and their patented process. It's very specific, people begin a fud campaign and start talking about the evil empire. I just don't get how this is news, unless people using the system properly is so unusual over the pond.