KDE violates IBM patent
On June 8, 2004 IBM was awarded a patent for: A Caps Lock notification method, system, mechanism, algorithm, and computer program product. A determination is made as to whether a Caps Lock key of a computer keyboard is in an error state, based on ascertaining whether a first condition has been satisfied. If it is so determined that the Caps Lock key is in an error state, then a signal is generated to communicate to a user at the computer keyboard that the Caps Lock key is in the error state. The signal may be a visual signal, an audible signal, a tactile signal, an auditory signal, or a combination thereof. Satisfaction of a second condition may be used to disable the signal. http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2Sect2=HITOFF; p=1u=/netahtml/search-bool.htmlr=1f=Gl=50co1=ANDd=ptxts1='c aps+lock'OS=%22caps+lock%22RS=%22caps+lock%22 Recent versions of KDE infringe this patent at the log-in screen. Where do we go to get our license? -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
if (caps_lock_on)
{
beep(0.5);
printf(Your caps lock is on.\n);
}
So this infringes on a IBM patent. great I hope IBM employees are
thrilled about working for such an innovative and forward looking company.
Robert.
On Friday 11 June 2004 14:52, you wrote:
On June 8, 2004 IBM was awarded a patent for:
A Caps Lock notification method, system, mechanism, algorithm,
and computer program product. A determination is made as to
whether a Caps Lock key of a computer keyboard is in an error
state, based on ascertaining whether a first condition has been
satisfied. If it is so determined that the Caps Lock key is in an
error state, then a signal is generated to communicate to a user
at the computer keyboard that the Caps Lock key is in the error
state. The signal may be a visual signal, an audible signal, a
tactile signal, an auditory signal, or a combination thereof.
Satisfaction of a second condition may be used to disable the
signal.
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2Sect2=HITOFF;
p=1u=/netahtml/search-bool.htmlr=1f=Gl=50co1=ANDd=ptxts1='c
aps+lock'OS=%22caps+lock%22RS=%22caps+lock%22
Recent versions of KDE infringe this patent at the log-in screen.
Where do we go to get our license?
--
license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
--
license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
Isn't there a procedure to request revoking patents? Shouldn't the FOSS community unite to file such requests against stupid patents? Or do the the antipatent provisions of certain FOSS licenses completely take care of this? Thanks. -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
Where do we go to get our license? http://www.ibm.com/ibm/licensing/contact I'd guess. regards, alexander. -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
Robert Osfield wrote:
if (caps_lock_on)
{
beep(0.5);
printf(Your caps lock is on.\n);
}
So this infringes on a IBM patent. great I hope IBM employees are
thrilled about working for such an innovative and forward looking company.
I am not trying to defend IBM or this patent (because I agree that it is
trivial and just sucks that it is patented), but, as a general comment
(re all inventions, not just this one) there is more to any invention
(or better, innovation) than just figuring out how to do it, there is
also the need to recognize it is worth doing (and possible) (or
alternately, just recognize that it is possible, worthwhile or not).
I was going to ask (rhetorically) how many computers / operating systems
incorporate such an alarm, then I remembered that there were (are) DOS
utilities (way back when) that display the status of things like the
NumLock, CapsLock, and ScrollLock on the screen.
It seems to me that should be enough prior art to kill this patent.
regards,
Randy Kramer
--
license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
It seems to me that should be enough prior art to kill this patent. Clearly there is. But is this fact sufficient to protect someone (re)deploying the mechanism? Or must the patent be revoked in some way prior to that? I mean, suppose I deploy the mechanism and IBM puts me in court. Can the court dismiss the case given proofs that the patent lacks innovation? (And is the patent revoked then?) Or are they bound to the patent title? Thanks. Not at all pressing. -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
Marius Amado Alves wrote: It seems to me that should be enough prior art to kill this patent. Clearly there is. But is this fact sufficient to protect someone (re)deploying the mechanism? Or must the patent be revoked in some way prior to that? US patents are presumed valid. A court will assume a patent is valid unless the defendant can prove that it isn't. So the burden is on you to come up with prior art and to ask the court to please revoke the patent. You can do this if you get sued or just if you feel like it, although most people don't feel like spending tens of thousands of dollars without a good reason. I haven't studied this patent in detail, just looked at the claims. It seems more than just detecting caps lock and giving a message. My first impression is that it covers the more specific idea of detecting a wrong password being typed, noticing caps lock being on, and saying Wrong password, perhaps due to caps lock being on That kind of invention isn't anticipated by DOS or Windows utilities that show the capslock status on the screen. It could be if you could find a login screen that exhibited the above feature and that existed more than a year before the filing date of this patent. IAAL, but TINLA. Arnoud -- Arnoud Engelfriet, Dutch patent attorney - Speaking only for myself Patents, copyright and IPR explained for techies: http://www.iusmentis.com/ -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
On 11 Jun 2004, at 15:52, dlw wrote: Recent versions of KDE infringe this patent at the log-in screen. Where do we go to get our license? And Mac OSX shows a CapsLock symbol in the password entry field of the logon screen as well. :-) /Steven -- Steven Noelshttp://outerthought.org/ Outerthought - Open Source Java XMLAn Orixo Member Read my weblog athttp://blogs.cocoondev.org/stevenn/ stevenn at outerthought.orgstevenn at apache.org -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
I wrote a fast, rather tongue-in-cheek story about this. The few quotes used were with permission: http://business.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=04/06/11/179255 Thanks, everyone. - Robin 'Roblimo' Miller Editor in Chief, OSDN -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
Re: KDE violates IBM patent
Robin 'Roblimo' Miller wrote: I wrote a fast, rather tongue-in-cheek story about this. The few quotes used were with permission: http://business.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=04/06/11/179255 Good article! Thanks for the feedback! regards, Randy Kramer -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
