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'Eolas' Browser Plug-in Patent Case Rises Again

Posted by Zonk on from the return-of-the-living-patent-case dept.

eldavojohn writes "A legal battle that has been around since 1999 and seemingly ended in 2005 now rears its head again. In a confusing move, the USPTO 'reissued a Microsoft patent last week covering the same concepts outlined in the Eolas patent and with wording mirroring that of the Eolas patent. With both companies holding identical patents, the USPTO will now play King Solomon and decide which parent gets custody of the baby.' Both the Microsoft & Eolas patents are available online."

1 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Re:No. by stubear · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    copyright protects the actual code, the expression of the idea in a tangible medium as it were. Patents protect the idea itself (as long as it's a unique and patentable idea). The sooner you slashmonkeys understand the simple, 101 level basics of intellectual property, the quicker we can get over these stupid blogs and forum comments ranting and raving about things they don't understand well enough to formulate a well reasoned opinion, much less formal argument.