Eolas vs Microsoft
Zeldman points us to a potentially troublesome ruling against Microsoft. The legal argument is between a software company called Eolas and Microsoft. Eolas claim that in 1998 it patented the technology which allows plug-ins or applets to be embedded into web pages. The technology was then 'stolen' by Microsoft to allow rich media content such as Flash, QuickTime, Real video, Java applets and PDF’s to be viewed through IE.
Last month Eolas won a $521 million award as compensation for the patent infringement, and all challenges made by Microsoft were dismissed by the courts.
Although Microsoft fully expects to be successful in the long run, the potential effects of a ruling in favour of Eolas could mean dramatic changes to IE and millions of websites that already use embedded media. It could all get very messy and expensive.
"If you’re currently using a plug-in, you will have to change your pages quite significantly," said one person familiar with Microsoft’s post-verdict plans. "There might be tools to help you do so, but currently they don’t exist."
Posted 6 years, 10 months ago
Looks like the attitude by MS in this case is being interpreted rather cynically. As Zeldman explains - "Microsoft might willingly lose the case because doing so would harm its competitors worse than it hurt Redmond". The plot thickens....
A Pyrrhic Patent Victory
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1269693,00.asp
Once again Zeldman is hot on the heels of a conspiracy. (I really should get browsing myself...).
Phil · 6 years, 10 months ago
And here on ZDNet -
The patent fight that could disrupt the Internet
http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/ebusiness/story/0,2000048590,20278616,00.htm
Phil · 6 years, 10 months ago
xlab - Apple, Macromedia & Real publish workarounds to IE changes
http://www.xlab.co.uk/read/398
Phil · 6 years, 9 months ago