At 01:07 PM 12/7/98 +0100, you wrote:
>Found a link to this article on JavaLobby:
>
> http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit19981203.html
>
>Could turn out bad. Very bad.
>
I read the abstract of this patent. I'm going to order a copy of the full
patent because, IMHO, the patent abstract doesn't sufficiently describe the
technology being patented. It is a sweeping description of any external
executable content that allows further interaction and manipulation of
embedded hypermedia content. It specifically states that the executable
content may execute on the source server, the client workstation or any
other remote host. It sounds like they patented an idea (not unlike
X-windows). It will either be difficult to enforce or so generally
applicable that we may as well just cancel our internet accounts.
I am a little miffed that Sun knew about this before they led us down the
Java road. If Java is negatively impacted at the expense of all of us who
have invested our time and money in it, Sun is completely responsible.
According to Cringely, they should have been aware of a potential patent
filing.
Douglas Toltzman
