Remember also that a patent is granted on a very specific method/plan/schema.
So, MS wouldn't be able to step in and "patent" Macrodobe's method of limiting software based on license, necessarily. Nor would they be able to sue Macrodobe for violation of patent for simply offering the feature. Or they shouldn't be able to anyway. I guess it all depends on the depth of the pockets. On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 2:56 PM, Ian Skinner <[email protected]> wrote: > > Microsoft patents means of limiting software > http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10245846-56.html?tag=newsFeaturedBlogArea.0 > > Microsoft on Tuesday was granted a patent for a way of limiting access > to certain features of an operating system depending on whether a user > has paid for those features. > > The patent, titled "Restricted software and hardware usage on a > computer," covers a means by which it can offer software that has > features either enabled or not enabled depending on which edition a user > has purchased. It's a concept already in use at the company. > > ... > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Want to reach the ColdFusion community with something they want? Let them know on the House of Fusion mailing lists Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:297347 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
