When will the patent for Win98 expire?

[JEDI]

Patents in the US last for 7 years after they're approved. Win98's patent should expire in 2005 = free Win98 for everyone?

 

[Yossarian]

copyrights last a lot longer.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: JEDI
Patents in the US last for 7 years after they're approved. Win98's patent should expire in 2005 = free Win98 for everyone?

uh no, it's 20 years after the application date (at least for utility patents)

i believe it used to be 17 years after approval or 20 years after application date, whichever was longer, but they got rid of the former.

 

[CanOWorms]

I would guess that Win98 would be copyrighted so you wouldn't be able to use it for free even if patents they used in it have expired. You could use the technology that they patented in whatever you want if the patents expired.

 

[EyeMWing]

Patents may expire quickly - but the copyright still applies for 80 years until the very last Microsoft employee dies (After the company, any company that purchased it and all it's assets, etc. dissolves)

So basically, you will NEVER legally get free Win98.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Patents may expire quickly - but the copyright still applies for 80 years until the very last Microsoft employee dies (After the company, any company that purchased it and all it's assets, etc. dissolves)

So basically, you will NEVER legally get free Win98.

UNless ms decides to allow it.


so yes you will enver be able to legaly own a free copy 😛

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Patents may expire quickly - but the copyright still applies for 80 years until the very last Microsoft employee dies (After the company, any company that purchased it and all it's assets, etc. dissolves)

So basically, you will NEVER legally get free Win98.

That is wrong copyright expires for companys 100 years after the product was created, but don't worry diseny will get that fixed soon enough.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Patents may expire quickly - but the copyright still applies for 80 years until the very last Microsoft employee dies (After the company, any company that purchased it and all it's assets, etc. dissolves)

So basically, you will NEVER legally get free Win98.

That is wrong copyright expires for companys 100 years after the product was created, but don't worry diseny will get that fixed soon enough.

In other words, I was right 😛

The likes of Disney will force the copyright law to be changed - just as they forced the DMCA to become the POS that it is.

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Patents may expire quickly - but the copyright still applies for 80 years until the very last Microsoft employee dies (After the company, any company that purchased it and all it's assets, etc. dissolves)

So basically, you will NEVER legally get free Win98.

That is wrong copyright expires for companys 100 years after the product was created, but don't worry diseny will get that fixed soon enough.

In other words, I was right 😛

The likes of Disney will force the copyright law to be changed - just as they forced the DMCA to become the POS that it is.

Your not right yet. But you will be right.