A federal appeals court has just ruled that Microsoft must pay more than $140 million for infringing on software patents owned by a Michigan-based technology company, z4 Technologies. The company had sued Microsoft and Autodesk, maker of drafting software, in 2004, claiming the technology they used to activate newly installed software and deter piracy infringed on patents created and owned by David Colvin, the owner of privately held z4. z4 argued that Microsoft's Windows XP and Office 2003 suite of productivity software used its patented method of asking computer users to supply two passwords, or authorization codes, before they could fully use new software.
In April of last year, a federal jury in East Texas ordered Microsoft to pay $115 million to z4, plus attorney fees and $25 million for willful patent infringement. The OS maker, which had argued that the patents were invalid, appealed the decision. Unfortunately for MS, on Nov. 16, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the lower court's decision in its entirety. Microsoft spokesman David Bowermaster said Windows Vista and Office 2007 are not affected by the appeals court decision and that the company does not have to make any technical changes to Windows XP or Office 2003.
News source: SiliconValley.com
This is why software patents are ridiculous. If I built an app that asked for two passwords/codes before I let users actually use my app, I'd be infringing on their patent. I could write a program to do that right now. Although I don't use Autodesk apps and I'm certainly no MS advocate, I must say that this is completely stupid. Neither company should have been required to pay any monies to z4. This is outrageous.
This is why software patents are ridiculous. If I built an app that asked for two passwords/codes before I let users actually use my app, I'd be infringing on their patent. I could write a program to do that right now. Although I don't use Autodesk apps and I'm certainly no MS advocate, I must say that this is completely stupid. Neither company should have been required to pay any monies to z4. This is outrageous.
Yet another reason to switch to a Mac, Apple unlike Microsoft never loses a patent appeal.
This is why software patents are ridiculous. If I built an app that asked for two passwords/codes before I let users actually use my app, I'd be infringing on their patent. I could write a program to do that right now. Although I don't use Autodesk apps and I'm certainly no MS advocate, I must say that this is completely stupid. Neither company should have been required to pay any monies to z4. This is outrageous.
Yet another reason to switch to a Mac, Apple unlike Microsoft never loses a patent appeal.
Oh come on..does everything have to ultimately come down to justify buying a Mac? What next? The weather is gloomy and cloudy but if you get a Mac, its bright screen will serve as an alternate sun?
Anyway, personally, there should be a limit on what you CAN patent/copyright. Some of these are just ridiculous, the implementation of "typing an authorization code twice" is a "patent." There should be a minimum level of complexity to the item before it can be patented.
This is why software patents are ridiculous. If I built an app that asked for two passwords/codes before I let users actually use my app, I'd be infringing on their patent. I could write a program to do that right now. Although I don't use Autodesk apps and I'm certainly no MS advocate, I must say that this is completely stupid. Neither company should have been required to pay any monies to z4. This is outrageous.
Welcome to 2007. Where kids shoot other kids, pre-teens get pregnant and the entire world has gone to ****.
This is why software patents are ridiculous. If I built an app that asked for two passwords/codes before I let users actually use my app, I'd be infringing on their patent. I could write a program to do that right now. Although I don't use Autodesk apps and I'm certainly no MS advocate, I must say that this is completely stupid. Neither company should have been required to pay any monies to z4. This is outrageous.
Welcome to 2007. Where kids shoot other kids, pre-teens get pregnant and the entire world has gone to ****.
More like
"Welcome to 2007, where news comment threads on Neowin go straight to hell right on the second post."
This is why software patents are ridiculous. If I built an app that asked for two passwords/codes before I let users actually use my app, I'd be infringing on their patent. I could write a program to do that right now. Although I don't use Autodesk apps and I'm certainly no MS advocate, I must say that this is completely stupid. Neither company should have been required to pay any monies to z4. This is outrageous.
Yet another reason to switch to a Mac, Apple unlike Microsoft never loses a patent appeal.
I wish they made gag balls for keyboard.
You reap what you sow.
this one in particular is just down right dumb
money makes the world go round
if you dont have money, you cant live
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST, but in this case the fittest lost
so i guess it's time to sue all those who patented things, and to sue the people who sue to uphold patents, as i ultimately own the patents to all things patented.
all that blabber that i just said is almost as ridiculous as this suit, and all the million others out there!
I do believe that is a cheese omlete, actualy.
I wonder if anyone has patented that
Oh, wait, no they can't because a) software patents are illegal here b) no way could you get a patent for having a set number of boxes to fill in c) we'd kill them
maybe not the last one...
if Microsoft pay, they should do it in stages using bags of 1c coins just to serve the money-grubbing tit right.
But when you can sue big successful companies with no ground to stand on and still win, why on Earth would you work?
I think I will sue Apple. I don't think they have permission from Mother Nature to use the name "Apple" and they should pay up. Now I just need to find a lawyer who wants a cut... Oh look at that, ten hands went up.
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