Redhat/Novell get sued for patents
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071012-patent-holding-company-targets... The patent seems to be (as I read it) for the multiple desktop support in bottom right corner where you click on it. It was patented by Xerox in 1987 and they must have bought it at some time. I know this has been in X Windows forever (I used it in the 1980s) if I read it correctly. Will be interesting to see what comes of it. Of course there is a (tenuous) Microsoft link. -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz
On 10/13/07, Ian McDonald <ian.mcdonald(a)jandi.co.nz> wrote:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071012-patent-holding-company-targets...
The patent seems to be (as I read it) for the multiple desktop support in bottom right corner where you click on it. It was patented by Xerox in 1987 and they must have bought it at some time.
I know this has been in X Windows forever (I used it in the 1980s) if I read it correctly.
Will be interesting to see what comes of it. Of course there is a (tenuous) Microsoft link.
Some more thoughts on this (should engage brain before send...). This is probably the most dangerous kind of attack as they have: - bought a patent from a legitimate company (Xerox) - can't be cross sued for their own product as they don't have any But I haven't read all the details so just guessing that this is a threat. To me anyway, this seems worse than SCO. Ian -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz
The patent seems to be (as I read it) for the multiple desktop support in bottom right corner where you click on it. It was patented by Xerox in 1987 and they must have bought it at some time.
http://www.clemson.edu/research/ottsite/ottStart_IntelectPatents.htm *Patent Duration *Utility patents expire 20 years from the date of filing with the U. S. Patent & Trademark Office, if maintenance fees are paid. Plant and design patents do not require maintenance fees. Design patents expire 14 years from grant. A patent cannot be renewed. After a patent expires, anyone may use the invention without the inventor's permission. The patent is expiring soon, so IP Innovations is making use of their investment.
On 10/13/07, Daniel Lawson <daniel(a)meta.net.nz> wrote:
http://www.clemson.edu/research/ottsite/ottStart_IntelectPatents.htm
*Patent Duration *Utility patents expire 20 years from the date of filing with the U. S. Patent & Trademark Office, if maintenance fees are paid. Plant and design patents do not require maintenance fees. Design patents expire 14 years from grant. A patent cannot be renewed. After a patent expires, anyone may use the invention without the inventor's permission.
The patent is expiring soon, so IP Innovations is making use of their investment.
Just had a look around and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_patent_law says: Under current US law, the term of patent is either 20 years from the earliest claimed filing date or 17 years from the issue date. And you can sue for past use of a patent without permission as well. -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz
On 10/13/07, Ian McDonald <ian.mcdonald(a)jandi.co.nz> wrote:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071012-patent-holding-company-targets...
The patent seems to be (as I read it) for the multiple desktop support in bottom right corner where you click on it. It was patented by Xerox in 1987 and they must have bought it at some time.
I know this has been in X Windows forever (I used it in the 1980s) if I read it correctly.
Will be interesting to see what comes of it. Of course there is a (tenuous) Microsoft link.
There is a long article on this at Groklaw here: http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20071016234739918 (I haven't read it all yet) -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz
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