Patent Someone Elses Work?
Asraniel
Join Date: 2002-06-03 Member: 724Members, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Playtester, Retired Community Developer
Join Date: 2002-06-03 Member: 724Members, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Playtester, Retired Community Developer
<div class="IPBDescription">M$ way of live</div> So im back from egypt.. and the first thing i saw was that:
[URL=http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/04/02/25/1346201.shtml[/URL]
They patent the technology of multiple desktops.... isnt that crazy? I mean, have you ever seen windows with multiple desktops? i havent, but linux has it for years...
The BEST thing, on page 2 of the patent, the use screenshots from GNOME.. a open source desptop... They could patent the mice.. i mean who cares that apple invented them?
[URL=http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/04/02/25/1346201.shtml[/URL]
They patent the technology of multiple desktops.... isnt that crazy? I mean, have you ever seen windows with multiple desktops? i havent, but linux has it for years...
The BEST thing, on page 2 of the patent, the use screenshots from GNOME.. a open source desptop... They could patent the mice.. i mean who cares that apple invented them?
Comments
<a href='http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294737&Product=winxp' target='_blank'>Yes, it's called Window XP</a>. Not to mention that multiple desktop technology used by Microsoft (thanks to associations with Citrix) starting in 1989. That's the basis of Winview, Winframe, Metaframe, Terminal Server, etc...
Your link leads to an advertising banner, so I'm just going off of what you say above. If you can point us to a working URL we can chat more.
Coincidentally enough, you're <i>still</i> right that multiple desktops linux-style is a feature that can be <a href='http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/DeskmanPowertoySetup.exe' target='_blank'>used in Windows XP, by downloading this powertoy.</a>
I read about this the other day, so I knew where to look for the <a href='http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220030189597%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20030189597&RS=DN/20030189597' target='_blank'>patent Microsoft filed.</a> No screenies and far too much text, but the idea is to have multiple desktops and a scaled-down preview of each. Look at screenshots for darn well near any major Linux distribution and it's probably there. (Look at the video previews for <a href='http://wwws.sun.com/software/looking_glass/demo.html' target='_blank'>Project Looking Glass</a> and you'll see they've gone absolutely nuts with the idea)
And yes, I know I like <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?&act=ST&f=28&t=64408' target='_blank'>using links</a> way too much. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I ask based on the concept, not the OS (as both support it). As you can see, all my linux experience is based on not using a GUI for anything... <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Update: and I read through the patent application. I'm not quite sure how they plan on making the patent stick, as there is obviously plenty of prior art out there to contest it. Perhaps because they are patenting one specific technical method of doing it?
The "picture" on page 2 of the patent is from gnome (even the gnome logo is on it).
@Mr.Evil: its much more usefull than you think to have multiple desktops. I have 4. one for surfing chating and watching TV. One for the music(xmms(winamp for linux) and all the music folders). One to develop applications and one for email and usenet....
So you dont have too many programms in one taskbar. I know, at the beginning its not that great because your not used to it, but now i cant live without it!!!
<a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/35904.html' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/35904.html</a>
<a href='http://news.com.com/2100-1012-5062409.html?tag=nl' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/2100-1012-5062409.html?tag=nl</a>
<a href='http://news.com.com/2100-1017-1027343.html?tag=nl' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/2100-1017-1027343.html?tag=nl</a>
<a href='http://news.com.com/2100-1017-1010397.html?tag=nl' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/2100-1017-1010397.html?tag=nl</a>
I heavily doubt this patent attempt will go through without a bit of a fight, though.
<a href='http://www.patersontech.com/Dos/Byte/History.html' target='_blank'>A bit more indepth here.</a>
Basically, MS bought QDOS (quick and dirty operating system; it took about 2 months to write) that Seattle Computer wrote for about $50000-$100000, rewrote some of the code to work on IBM PCs, then patented it as a new product (MS-DOS). Then did some deals with IBM and made millions.
It's too bad so many computer companies have so little marketing sense. You would think QDOS would have told microsoft to *** off so they could make their own deal with IBM, why they didn't is beyond me. It takes incredible marketing ploys to take an inferior product and sell it to millions of people. Those vendor agreements were pure genius, even if you consider it 'monopolistic'.
Marketing is the reason for Linux's failure, as well as Apple's recent success.
Linux hasn't failed.
Linux hasn't failed. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I know, anything that is almost always distributed everywhere for FREE, is used by less then on average 2.5% of computer OS userbase, and most specifically exclusively by teenagers for personal use is anything BUT a failure, right? MonsE, you care to come add why Linux blows?
As for the MS-DOS, that's Seattle Computers' own stupid fault. Or maybe, perhaps, Microsoft bought the source code from them, there was no legal disclosure that they couldn't modify and resell it, and they took advantage of it.
As for the original poster... well I'd like to say what I'd love to do to you for using 'M$', 'Micro$haft' or whatever, but I'm afraid the mods wouldn't like that. Microsoft makes a superior product to whatever crap you're using (I enjoy seeing screenshots of Linux desktops... and it looks JUST like a Windows desktop <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->), and the numbers prove it. Pretty interesting that I've <b>never</b> seen an ad for a Microsoft Operating System... yet microsoft OSs make up about 75-80% (even 90% from some things I've seen) on all computers. Of course, everyone that uses Windows is an idiot, supporting an EVIL CORRUPT EMPIRE OF DOOM, right?
Psht, please.
(Sorry, I just really hate when people, obviously jealous that superior products and marketing has made a certain company rich, bash it by pulling crap out of their rear) And again to the original topic: patenting dual monitor support. You can't "patent" an idea. That's like patenting the concept of a button, or patenting electricity. Their patent simply applies to THEIR WAY OF DOING IT.
Linux hasn't failed. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're taking 'failed' too literally. So how about this;
"marketing is the reason for Linux's failure to gain appreciable market share, and the reason for Apple's ability to make a startling come back."
EEK: There's a good chance you're going to get flamed, and deservedly so.
Woah dude... do you like, watch tv? Remember the XP add with the people flying around for no readily aparent reason? Or the more recent 2003 server adds with the PHBs who's eyes galze over when the tech is talking until he mentions how much money they save?
Edit: Ow wait, you were like, sarcastic... I really need to stop posting at 2:00am
Woah dude... do you like, watch tv? Remember the XP add with the people flying around for no readily aparent reason? Or the more recent 2003 server adds with the PHBs who's eyes galze over when the tech is talking until he mentions how much money they save? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, you got me, I did forget about the XP ads, but I've never seen one for Win2003.
But of course, you're right! An ad campaign lasting a couple months is SOLEY responsible, is the ONLY reason that windows has sold over 400 million copies. It's the ONLY reason that people haven't flocked in droves to the utopia, the garden of eden that is Linux.
Hooh hahha please... but Linux isn't the topic here...