That's kind of my point though. If I invent a new product such as a wind up radio, I would think to do a patent search to see if a similar patent exists. That's a tangible product with defined search criteria.
Now, with software the boundaries are blury. What can you patent as in invention? The ability to skin an app? The ability to click a button on a website to initiate a purchase? The ability to increment a variable?
Pretty soon we'll have to check every applet, function, line of code we write to see if anyone has patented what we're trying to do. As I live in the EU I'm not lumbered with these worries, but the day will come when I am.
I just don't get how this is meant to work. I don't blame Microsoft here, how are they to know an idea they comeup with has has already been patented? Or is this just the way modern business is going - money is made my sueing other people. I rarely stand behind MS, but i think this is all getting a bit silly now.
I don't see that happening at all, the RIAA won't let them charge prices that low or get away without he same levels of DRM as everyone else. And if Microsoft get their way, it'll be a PlaysForSure store, so won't work on many players at all.
It sounds like you're dreaming to me, but it's a good dream! Just wish it would become reality. Doubt it will though.
This has already been launched in the UK by a couple of telcos, Vodafone being the first one I can name.
It seems it's free for the first few months, then various packages of channels are available between £2.50 and £5 a month which isn't excessive. Not heard any glowing reviews, not nothing terrible either. I just couldn't watch TV on such a small screen...
...it always is. It's a good rule to live by and the same applies offline as much as it does online. I'd rather buy from a trustworthy online store or shop such as Amazon than save a few pounds. The cheapeast is rarely the best, hence why I will never shop with Ebuyer in the UK again.
I'd rather pay for customer service I know I can trust than just be fobbed off all the time and ultimately end up out of pocket.
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Now, with software the boundaries are blury. What can you patent as in invention? The ability to skin an app? The ability to click a button on a website to initiate a purchase? The ability to increment a variable?
Pretty soon we'll have to check every applet, function, line of code we write to see if anyone has patented what we're trying to do. As I live in the EU I'm not lumbered with these worries, but the day will come when I am.
I just don't get how this is meant to work. I don't blame Microsoft here, how are they to know an idea they comeup with has has already been patented? Or is this just the way modern business is going - money is made my sueing other people. I rarely stand behind MS, but i think this is all getting a bit silly now.
Surely Politics would be a better category? I know it isn't US politics I know at least 4 Europeans use this site other than me!
I don't see that happening at all, the RIAA won't let them charge prices that low or get away without he same levels of DRM as everyone else. And if Microsoft get their way, it'll be a PlaysForSure store, so won't work on many players at all. It sounds like you're dreaming to me, but it's a good dream! Just wish it would become reality. Doubt it will though.
This has already been launched in the UK by a couple of telcos, Vodafone being the first one I can name. It seems it's free for the first few months, then various packages of channels are available between £2.50 and £5 a month which isn't excessive. Not heard any glowing reviews, not nothing terrible either. I just couldn't watch TV on such a small screen...
...it always is. It's a good rule to live by and the same applies offline as much as it does online. I'd rather buy from a trustworthy online store or shop such as Amazon than save a few pounds. The cheapeast is rarely the best, hence why I will never shop with Ebuyer in the UK again. I'd rather pay for customer service I know I can trust than just be fobbed off all the time and ultimately end up out of pocket.