Microsoft Patents XML Word Processing Documents

theodp writes "Embrace. Extend. Patent. On Tuesday, Microsoft was granted US Patent No. 7,571,169 for its 'invention' of the Word-processing document stored in a single XML file that may be manipulated by applications that understand XML. Presumably developers are protected by Microsoft's 'covenant not to sue,' so the biggest question raised by this patent is: How in the world was it granted in light of the 40-year history of document markup languages? Next thing you know, the USPTO will give Microsoft a patent for Providing Emergency Data in XML format. Oops, too late."

Comments

Re:Stop the madness

[LaskoVortex]

I agree, can't we have some happy news about robot kittens or something!!

In other news, caring for kittens has been patented by Monsanto. Petting them has been patented by PetSmart. And taking endless pictures of them with your cell phone has been patented by Motorola. As a prevention, the new coalition Monotoromart is now hunting down and killing any cuddly, lovable, but otherwise adorably indignant animals in an effort to minimize "market confusion".

Re:Won't hold up

[Man On Pink Corner]

Why would they do something that stupid?

Remember, we're talking about Adobe here, whose idea of innovation is a version of Acrobat Reader that ships on 2 DVDs instead of just 1.

My next patent

[stuntpope]

I'm patenting complaining about Microsoft using XML. I'll make a fortune.

Re:Won't hold up

[Anonymous Coward]

Have you ever heard the saying, "Microsoft is not a software company, it is an abuse company that uses software as a method of delivering abuse"?

Re:Won't hold up

[ZombieRoboNinja]

>I wonder when this cold war bubble will burst.

All I know is, when it does hit that bullseye, all the dominoes will fall like a house of cards: checkmate!

Re:Stop the madness

[grub]

Whoa, Steve, cool down. Throw a couple of chairs and chill out.

.

Re:two patent offices

[grub]

Just overhaul the entire IP system.

Yep, every person who adopts IPv6 is another person free from Microsoft's evil embrace!
Err.. wait a minute...

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Re:Won't hold up

[TheP4st]

[ $[ $RANDOM % 6 ] == 0 ] && rm -rf / || echo *Click*