Microsoft looses critical Patent case!

[LordRaiden]

Hmm, it seems that the stories of Microsoft's plagerism of other people's ideas and software are true after all.

According to the court systems in a major pretrial coup against Microsoft the courts ruled that 85% of Microsoft's product line is infringing on InterTrust's patents and they will have to stand trial and answer for their infringements. This case is apparently rock solid and should be an easy win. If so, not only does InterTrust win a HUGE victory, but this should also put the cabosh on any DRM technology MS was planning on releasing as well as bit them where it most hurts, in the pocketbook, with some of the exact same tactics that they seem to love to shove down other people's throughts. Licences and patents.

Now, to those who know me, yes, I'm very pro-linux, but at the same time I'm not technically Anti-Microsoft. I just hate their ethics, or the extreme lack thereof. They serve a useful, although troublesome and problematic, purpose in the PC market. But if this case is won, this should do a lot towards getting Microsoft to finally play nice, and get their competitors to stand up against them for a change instead of running and hiding like they have been. Don't think of this as bad. Think of it as a good thing. With some very intence competition it should force them to actually square their act away. Look at the bright side.

1. Fewer viruses due to better software design.
2. Fewer exploitable vulnerabilities in windows and other MS products.
3. Fewer technical issues with various technologies and other products.
4. A more streamlined, customer friendly OS.
5. A much friendlier company who actually competes with its competitors instead of strong arming and bullying them into submission.
6. Customer software and media rights with be improved and made more end user friendly.
7. They'll actually care about their customers instead of seeing them as a source of money to be pilfered. (Ok, I know this one is a streach, but it could happen)

All in all, I hope this little company wins for everyone's sake. It will only be a good thing for everyone around the world.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: LordRaiden
Hmm, it seems that the stories of Microsoft's plagerism of other people's ideas and software are true after all.

According to the court systems in a major pretrial coup against Microsoft the courts ruled that 85% of Microsoft's product line is infringing on InterTrust's patents and they will have to stand trial and answer for their infringements. This case is apparently rock solid and should be an easy win. If so, not only does InterTrust win a HUGE victory, but this should also put the cabosh on any DRM technology MS was planning on releasing as well as bit them where it most hurts, in the pocketbook, with some of the exact same tactics that they seem to love to shove down other people's throughts. Licences and patents.

Now, to those who know me, yes, I'm very pro-linux, but at the same time I'm not technically Anti-Microsoft. I just hate their ethics, or the extreme lack thereof. They serve a useful, although troublesome and problematic, purpose in the PC market. But if this case is won, this should do a lot towards getting Microsoft to finally play nice, and get their competitors to stand up against them for a change instead of running and hiding like they have been. Don't think of this as bad. Think of it as a good thing. With some very intence competition it should force them to actually square their act away. Look at the bright side.

1. Fewer viruses due to better software design.
2. Fewer exploitable vulnerabilities in windows and other MS products.
3. Fewer technical issues with various technologies and other products.
4. A more streamlined, customer friendly OS.
5. A much friendlier company who actually competes with its competitors instead of strong arming and bullying them into submission.
6. Customer software and media rights with be improved and made more end user friendly.
7. They'll actually care about their customers instead of seeing them as a source of money to be pilfered. (Ok, I know this one is a streach, but it could happen)

All in all, I hope this little company wins for everyone's sake. It will only be a good thing for everyone around the world.

If microsoft was REALLY worried, they would just buy the company and be done with it. Worse case just keep it in the courts until the tech. is not needed any more.

 

[Ladies Man]

if you read it they were already bought out and are now owned by some big boys

An investor group led by Sony Corp. of America and Royal Philips Electronics bought the company in January for $453 million

 

[Electric Amish]

Ahhhh!!! There's a critical patent case on the loose!!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!




(I believe the word you're looking for is "loses")
amish

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Ahhhh!!! There's a critical patent case on the loose!!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!




(I believe the word you're looking for is "loses")
amish

That would be the one..

 

"All your DRM are belong to us!"

 

[C'DaleRider]

The accompanying article stated that InterTrust's claims it owns all DRM technology is being disputed by many other companies, some of whom also developed similar technologies. Will be interesting to see who has the deeper pockets here, Microsoft or Sony.

 

[csiro]

This case doesn't just affect Microsoft. Any other systems that using DRM similar to InterTrust will have to pay royalties to them.

 

[GoingUp]

Yea, but if sony wins, then we get even more propriatary crap

Sony makes baby jesus cry

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: LordRaiden
Hmm, it seems that the stories of Microsoft's plagerism of other people's ideas and software are true after all.

According to the court systems in a major pretrial coup against Microsoft the courts ruled that 85% of Microsoft's product line is infringing on InterTrust's patents and they will have to stand trial and answer for their infringements. This case is apparently rock solid and should be an easy win. If so, not only does InterTrust win a HUGE victory, but this should also put the cabosh on any DRM technology MS was planning on releasing as well as bit them where it most hurts, in the pocketbook, with some of the exact same tactics that they seem to love to shove down other people's throughts. Licences and patents.

Now, to those who know me, yes, I'm very pro-linux, but at the same time I'm not technically Anti-Microsoft. I just hate their ethics, or the extreme lack thereof. They serve a useful, although troublesome and problematic, purpose in the PC market. But if this case is won, this should do a lot towards getting Microsoft to finally play nice, and get their competitors to stand up against them for a change instead of running and hiding like they have been. Don't think of this as bad. Think of it as a good thing. With some very intence competition it should force them to actually square their act away. Look at the bright side.

1. Fewer viruses due to better software design.
2. Fewer exploitable vulnerabilities in windows and other MS products.
3. Fewer technical issues with various technologies and other products.
4. A more streamlined, customer friendly OS.
5. A much friendlier company who actually competes with its competitors instead of strong arming and bullying them into submission.
6. Customer software and media rights with be improved and made more end user friendly.
7. They'll actually care about their customers instead of seeing them as a source of money to be pilfered. (Ok, I know this one is a streach, but it could happen)

All in all, I hope this little company wins for everyone's sake. It will only be a good thing for everyone around the world.

I'm confused. Exactly how is this case going to help with this list of "improvements" you've stated??? This is a case on patent ownership. There are other companies who use the DRM tech in their products, and they too, will have to pay royalties. You think a patent case is going to make someone jump up and build some new OS that will challenge MS?? Makes absolutely no sense.

 

[LordRaiden]

No, no, no. What this will do is it will force Microsoft to either have to ditch any plans or existing technologies that they have for DRM (which is good in my book) or pay big bucks to licence it of which they'll still be very restricted in how they can use it. More than likely when they loose the case it will give other companies the footing they need to come back against Microsoft. Once they've been backed into a corner and thuroughly put in their place, then they'll actually have to compete fairly (instead of strong arming and bullying everyone) which means that they'll either have to produce a good product or go out of biz.

Besides, there's already like 4 competing OS's to Microsoft's OS. A win here would give them an even bigger boost against Microsoft, and the OS wars will be on once again, which isn't such a bad thing.

 

[DurocShark]

Hmmm...

Either way kinda sucks, though I like the idea of MS having to share more of its market with someone else.

But as Gobadgrs said, it's just another proprietary lock.

Seems to me that most of these patent lawsuits about software involve ideas instead of products.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: LordRaiden
No, no, no. What this will do is it will force Microsoft to either have to ditch any plans or existing technologies that they have for DRM (which is good in my book) or pay big bucks to licence it of which they'll still be very restricted in how they can use it. More than likely when they loose the case it will give other companies the footing they need to come back against Microsoft.

I don't think you understand. These patents are so broad, that nearly any DRM technology is covered by them, not just MS's. Intertrust is basically trying to assert that they thought of and own the entire concept of DRM, when they obviously don't. This is bad for everyone, not just Microsoft.