And the verdict was....

[comicGeek]

and everybody thought the GIF patent issue was absurrrrd...

------------------------------------------------------------
Patent could force web change

Web developers are anxiously waiting for a Microsoft announcement about
changes to its Internet Explorer browser after a US court found that it
infringes another company's software patent.

Last month the Chicago District Court awarded $521 million in damages to
Eolas, the small company which holds the patent, ordering Microsoft to
remove all infringing technology from its browser and other programs.

read more here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3109180.stm
------------------------------------------------------------

and what about Netscape, Opera, Mozilla, and Safari? do they have the
tiniest idea the U.S. patent system is flawed?

A maybe we should start thinking about our current work? :(

[Edg3]

hmm bad news indeed:a:

[comicGeek]

Possibly! :-\

[Soul]

I don't understand?

[Kitiara]

I think the premise is that the idea of embedding certain technologies like Flash into an HTML page / site and the idea of using web services through a browser is protected by a patent? And since the patent is owned by this other company, they believe Microsoft is infringing on their territory by letting IE do it...

[Soul]

Its all greek to me :crazy:

[thoriphes]

...well, if that's the case, then i patent being able to listen to music on your computer :bad:

then again, that's just me

[Kitiara]

In slightly more simple terms, I think the theory is that instead of being able to embed a Flash movie into an HTML page, you would have to link to it. The user has to click to open the file...

[prstudio]

yeah the patent seems to be on the technology that autoloads a component...

sheesh- makes you wonder what else is next, and if Microsoft really had the technology first!

[Kitiara]

It's more the issue of what happens if the appeal fails and the smaller company do get their way. I think the fall out will affect Navigator and that as well - pretty much anything that autoloads in fact. :sigh:

It would mean that an awful lot of websites would be forced to change...

[asphaltcowboy]

Sounds like they're picking MS 'cause they know they've got enough money to pay out..

either way.. auto-loading graphics... wouldn't that mean that all websites would have to be text-based? :beam: that would be absolutely hilarious whilst also being THE MOST stupid ****ing ridiculous thing of all time :P

[Kitiara]

The cynical approach would indeed be to think that they're after a quick buck from MS... And it's difficult to disprove. :)

Seems as if this has been going on since 1999, and it's taken 4 years to get this far.

Can you patent the embedding of objects into web pages? Evidently so... Imagine what that would be like - every graphic, every Flash movie, you had to clicka text link to see it. I mean ffs... :sure:

Though Eolas could probably come out of this better by letting Microsoft buy them or something, thus acquiring the patent through acquisition... :sure:

[andr.in]

nutttssss! ffs.... NUTTSSS! :P

[asphaltcowboy]

lol, I think I'm gonna try and make a simple website like that ;)

[Kitiara]

How about you make your own site? ;)

*Runs and hides*

[sintax321]

I don't see how u can' patent some thing liek that. I know i'm going to patent breathing, talking and typing, All right suckers pay up:a:

[BadMagick]

I'm glad I'm getting into computer networking and not web design like I wanted to do before college! Whew!

That would be a boring Internet, wouldn't it?

I'm with asphalt ... I think they just went after Microsoft for some quick money. The American way - sue the other guy's *** and get rich from it!

[asphaltcowboy]

Originally posted by Kitiara
How about you make your own site? ;)

*Runs and hides* uncalled for. :P

[comicGeek]

Uhm I think it affects java and other plug-ins as well not just Flash! :-\

[sintax321]

However there is a general consensus within the web community that it would include clicking on a link to load a Flash movie or a video player, controlling an external application through a web interface and downloading and running programs inside a web page.

This means you wouldn't even be able to link to any thing else. Basicly all web pages would have to be jsut text.

[comicGeek]

I think Microsoft will just buy off EOLAS! That's the easiest and the cheapest thing to do! :-\

[sintax321]

Yep and if they buy them they also own the patent.

Wave by by to any other browser out there. Netscape , Opra and all the others will have to pay microsoft if they want to link or load extrnal contnet or apps.

[jingman]

so, what do you think will REALLY happen. Can they REALLY kill flash, QT, Java, RM, Acrobat, etc.?

[comicGeek]

I think Microsoft will buy EOLAS! But that's just me and my dumbness

[Kitiara]

Microsoft have certainly got the money to buy them out, it might be cheaper for them to do that than to fight a costly court case, which they aren't guaranteed to win.

As it is, they're appealing against the current verdict, which rules in favour of Eolas. :sure:

I can't help but wonder though, if Eolas did win in the end, exactly what would happen? Would they literally be able to stop everyone who uses these browsers from embedding images, movies etc into pages? Would they really force Netscape and Microsoft to remove that functionality from their browsers and reduce the Internet to the state it was in 10 years ago? :sure:

[Edg3]

Microsoft's best move would probably be to buy out Eolas and get the patent -- as previously stated. Of course, MS has already bought off almost everyone else so...:P

[sintax321]

I'm sure they are wating for the outcome of the appeal. Microsoft can afford to string this court case out till the end of time. Eolas might not be able to. If MS wins the appeal there will be no need for them to buy them out and eolas will have nothing. If Eolas was smart they would aproach MS with an offer to buy them out. I have a strong feeling that MS will win there appeal and Eolas will be left with nothing if they don't take this course of action.