In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Robin Laing <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > jonathon wrote: > > On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 12:33 PM, Ganesha Bhaskara wrote: > > > >> Does this put MSFT is a stronger position to enforce its office file > >> format related patents ? > > > > It either will have a no impact, or a negative impact to enforce their > > patents. > > > > The latter will occur if, and only if, the specific patents are listed > > in that document, and labeled as such. The reason it will be negative, > > is because the full bore of FLOSS supporters will examine the patent, > > and locate the prior art that Microsoft "forgot" to mention, when they > > obtained the patent. > > > > At the first lawsuit Microsoft files, that is related to a listed > > patent, the defense will be that the USPTO, as usual, failed to adhere > > to the law, and issued a patent that was both obvious, and based upon > > prior art, showing the court several such examples that were published, > > prior to Microsoft filing their patent. > > > > xan > > > > jonathon
> Have to be careful using this defence if what I have read becomes true. > I have read that the US patent department wants to change the rules to > who files first gets the patent. This could supersede prior art. Oh what fun that would be. I think I'll go for the wheel myself! Think of all those royalties flowing in... R -- Richard Travers [EMAIL PROTECTED] Truro, Cornwall
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