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11.29.07

Video: PBS on USPTO Reform

Posted in Patents, Videos at 12:17 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Investors, bankrupt companies, patent trolls, and drugs

This video reached YouTube just 3 days ago. It’s not too clear if Nightly Business Report is copyrights-bound in this case, but enjoy it while it lasts (we’re just linking)…

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2 Comments

  1. SubSonica said,

    November 29, 2007 at 2:52 am

    Gravatar

    Here you have a very,very good and clarifying speech
    on software patents that explains very clearly why is
    so important to avoid patent-encumbered format. The
    speech explains LZW (patented by Unisys) and how it
    was almost impossilble to avoid breaching the patent
    since it was implemented in GIF.
    I would call it “the software patents for dummies
    speech”:

    http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/stallman-mec-india.html#speech

    One of the examples the speech gives is the case of
    LZW (patented by Unisys) and how it was almost
    impossilble to avoid breaching the patent since it was
    implemented in GIF.

    But this can be applied to any format. I am sure that
    MSOOXML and Silverlight are full of patents.
    OK, now keep this in mind because it is important that
    the engineers and developers ingenuously (or
    disingenuously) implementing MSOOXML or Silverlight or
    .mono in FOSS projects to know why this is a terribly
    bad idea:

    One of the things the speech warns about, is that
    patents that are in the pipeline waiting for approval
    are secret for at least 18 months, so I am sure that
    even if no patent covers MSOOXML yet, they have
    something prepared in case the format gets approved by
    ISO and gains adoption. Once the patents are
    disclosed, people would already be locked-in, so
    Microsoft can sue around users and companies alike and
    cause much disruption.

  2. Roy Schestowitz said,

    November 29, 2007 at 5:46 am

    Gravatar

    I would call it “the software patents for dummies speech”

    I found it on FSDaily last night and I was going to mention it today. Thanks for the tip.

    But this can be applied to any format. I am sure that MSOOXML and Silverlight are full of patents.

    Yes.

    …so I am sure that even if no patent covers MSOOXML yet, they have something prepared in case the format gets approved by ISO and gains adoption

    I know there is a pledge, but I’ve received E-mails that suggest OOXML-related stuff keeps entering WIPO (site search brings that up). Combine that with Bill Hilf’s “No lawsuits — for now.” Smart people don’t throw rocks in a house made of glass.

    Once the patents are disclosed, people would already be locked-in, so Microsoft can sue around users and companies alike and cause much disruption.

    Keep warning IBM.

    http://boycottnovell.com/2007/11/27/mono-free-linux/

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