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Microsoft Patents Sudo's Behavior

Posted by timothy on from the rusty-shotgun's-right-twice-a-day dept.

Foofoobar writes "Just when you thought all was safe on the crazy patent front, Microsoft has come out of the obvious patent closet to file patent number 7617530, which basically duplicates the functionality of 'sudo' which is found in all Linux systems. PJ over at groklaw has a wonderful writeup on the entire fiasco."

21 of 657 comments (clear)

  1. Using a *NIX desktop would suck... by stakovahflow · · Score: 4, Funny

    without "sudo". My thanks to Micro$oft for inventing that great program! --Stak

    --
    Holy happy hippy crap!
    1. Re:Using a *NIX desktop would suck... by marcansoft · · Score: 5, Funny

      Meh, I rarely use sudo. I guess I'm just not too used to it. So su me.

  2. This is why software patents shouldn't be allowed by PinkyDead · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...because I couldn't bothered reading all that shit.

    --
    Genesis 1:32 And God typed :wq!
  3. Re:Penalties by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Patent system is the one to blame.

    There are too many sudo-intellectuals running it, that's why.

  4. "patent this obvious idea" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Patent Office: "Rejected."

    Microsoft: "sudo patent this obvious idea"

    Patent Office: "Okay."

    With apologies to xkcd.

  5. They didn't get it on their first try... by BobMcD · · Score: 5, Funny

    MS: Grant me this patent.

    USPTO: No!

    MS: Sudo grant me this patent.

    USPTO: Okay...

    1. Re: They didn't get it on their first try... by IorDMUX · · Score: 3, Funny

      alias sudo='wouldyoukindly'

      It seemed necessary...

      --
      >> Standing on head makes smile of frown, but rest of face also upside down.
    2. Re:They didn't get it on their first try... by MrNemesis · · Score: 2, Funny

      > sudo make me a sandwich

      > I'm sorry Dave, but under USPTO 7617530 I can't allow you to do that

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      Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
  6. It's the other way round actually... by pandrijeczko · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...with Windows' lax control of permissions allowing just about anybody to run as a super user, surely they should have a patent for "sudon't" which would probably be infinitely more useful?

    --
    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
  7. Re:Penalties by neiras · · Score: 5, Funny


    $ make me a patent
    make: *** No rule to make target `me'. Stop.
    $ sudo make me a patent
    Okay!
    $

  8. Re:This is why software patents shouldn't be allow by nitehawk214 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I couldn't bothered reading all that shit.

    Oddly enough, that is exactly what the patent examiner said.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  9. Re:Penalties by postbigbang · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, it was a typo.

    They patented *sume*. Long 'e' by the way.

    --
    ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
  10. Re:Stop with the alarmist headlines already by jack2000 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft's behavior is not a shadow, rather it's darkness, a very specific kind of darkness mind you, it grows, squirms and twitches, it has physical form and it's like a cluster of tentacles as it grabs towards you..

  11. Re:Penalties by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How original.

    http://xkcd.com/149/

  12. Re:Penalties by earlymon · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://xkcd.com/149/

    --
    Pathological kinda promises Path + Logical - but instead, you get stuck with pathetic.
  13. Re:Penalties by chaboud · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're use of the word "genious" is brillant.

  14. Patent office needs to be revoked of sudo access by Darkk · · Score: 3, Funny

    The patent office needs to be revoked of sudo access.

  15. Re:Patent office needs to be revoked of sudo acces by FunPika · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, we just need to disable Microsoft's access to run /usr/sbin/grantpatent as root in /etc/sudoers. ;)

    --
    After years of not using a signature, I am going to make one to say the following: Fuck Beta
  16. Re:This is why software patents shouldn't be allow by submain · · Score: 4, Funny

    the system makes every possible effort to interpret the code in such a way so that it doesn't have to do what you instructed it to do.

    So law is interpreted. Wonder why our justice system is so slow...

  17. Re:Penalties by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sometimes an application tries to do something whilst running under a non-privileged account. If an application tries this we could use [magic] to interrupt the process and present a dialogue allowing a user to assume permissions of another account which we know has appropriate permissions [by magic]. Alternatively, we could [do magic] to determine if the user can elevate privileges of their own account, and allow them to do so."

    But all your cabbages would explode!

    --
    Free Martian Whores!
  18. Re:Penalties by NotBornYesterday · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thanks! My day isn't complete until I've pissed off an AC.

    --
    I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.