Is it April1 already?

[mjc]

This (http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,50356,00.html) article over at Wired would seem to indicate that it is........


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[diurnal]

Its all 'bout the money ..... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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Murph's Law: 1.Everything takes longer than you think
2.If anything can go wrong it will
3.Nothing is as easy as it looks

[hiredgoonz]

There was a company in Russia that patented things like the nail and glass bottle after the fall of the USSR...

The reasoning was that since all patents were state owned, they became defunct when the USSR was no more...

So this company figured they could make tons of cash by charging a fee to companies that had made common items for years because now they owned the patents...

I don't think anybody ever paid them a kopeck, but it's the same kind of logic. Making money not through innovation, but by being sneakier than the next guy...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[Whyzman]

Kinda Like Pay Toilets?! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
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Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

[Ghost_Hacker]

LOL http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


Classic!!!!!!

[pentachris]

If they were really smart, they'd make you pay to get out of the toilet. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I sent my sister the link and asked her why the case wouldn't fly - she's applying to law schools to specialize in intellectual property, and she's spent about 6 months in England so she's somewhat familiar with BT. Here's her response:


Hi

Not sure how much help I can be, did find this article which does a better
job of explaining things (imho)-
http://www.applelinks.com/articles/2002/02/20020214133637.shtml

As both articles say, BT (which I can testify is complete crap -slow, bad
service, incompetent- and more ubiquitous in UK than ATT in US) has to prove that their patented technology is the same as the hyperlink technology (which doesn't seem likely given that even the judge has already said that their patent language is archaic) and they have to prove that their patent was based on original work (again examples seem to show otherwise).

Also, in the link above, it talks about this 'stifling the advancement of
technology' - and the US courts often seem to lean on the common sense side
of things (sometimes, anyway). And the interest of technology seems to
override BT's 'petty and opportunistic attempt to profiteer by attacking
innovation'
Hope that helps -best I could do in a hurry....

One more thing:

The article you sent me made a very relevant point that it is up to the
patent holder to aggressively defend his patent. The courts aren't going to
be happy to hear BT come in after 11 years and argue, 'oh, by the way, I own the rights to this technology. So, you owe me royalties from the past 11 years and years to come.'



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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[This message has been edited by pentachris (edited 02-20-2002).]