[link|http://news.com.com/2100-1001-985359.html?tag=fd_top|Something to worry about]

Excerpt:

Seattle, Wash.-based Timeline is trumpeting an order released last week that confirms a 1999 licensing agreement between it and Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft that bans sublicensing of Timeline's patents. The contract essentially prohibits third-party developers from creating customized technologies dependent on Timeline's patents without paying royalties. Microsoft had argued that it should be allowed to sublicense the technology to its customers.

Timeline's patents cover SQL Server development related to two components, the analyst services cube, which is a database within SQL Server, and DTS (data transformation services), a way to bring data into the relational database side of SQL. Timeline has licensed the patents to companies including Oracle, Hyperion Solutions and Sagent Technology.


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Although he couldn't put an exact figure on it, Timeline CEO Charlie Osenbaugh said a "significant" number of companies and developers could be affected by the ruling.

"Any developer on SQL Server 7 should get an attorney to take a look at that patent" to make sure there's no infringement, Osenbaugh said. The company charges royalty fees for use of its technology that consist of either a one-time flat fee ranging from $250,000 to $5 million, or a continuing payments of 5 percent of the retail value of each sale of a product based on the patented technology.

I say:

So um, what does this mean to Joe SQL-serf?

Intellectual property is so confusing. Even Microsoft didn't have it figured out.