Pursuing Growth, Microsoft Steps Up Patent Chase

Post #166,934

8/1/04 3:01:19 AM

[link|http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/30/technology/30soft.html|Pursuing Growth, Microsoft Steps Up Patent Chase]

"Microsoft said on Thursday that it planned to increase its storehouse of intellectual property by filing 50 percent more patent applications over the next year than in the previous 12 months.

Microsoft, the world's largest software company, increasingly regards the legal protection of its programming ideas as essential to safeguarding its growth opportunities.
...
Microsoft's stepped-up patent program, analysts say, will be watched closely in the industry to see if the company uses it mainly as a defensive tactic or as an offensive weapon to try to slow the spread of open source products."

Post #167,139

by Arkadiy

8/2/04 1:14:47 PM

What will all those con men do in twenty years?

The patents shall expire, and with the kind of broad coverage they all imply, it will be exceedingly difficult to "innovate" again. See the GIF gravy train for the example.

--

"...was poorly, lugubrious and intoxicated."

-- Patrick O'Brian, "Master and Commander"

Post #167,159

by imric

8/2/04 2:40:31 PM

Expire?

All they have to do is lobby like Disney, and no patent will ever expire again!

They have the money for it...

Imric's Tips for Living

Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.

Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.

Post #167,168

by Arkadiy

8/2/04 3:32:18 PM

In the interest of technical progress, no doubt.

I'll believe it when I see it. And when I see it, I'll probably hang myself. Why wait?

--

"...was poorly, lugubrious and intoxicated."

-- Patrick O'Brian, "Master and Commander"

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