On Tuesday 02 August 2005 12:35, Alan Brown wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Aug 2005, Kern Sibbald wrote:
> > By the way, you all might be interested to know that Microsoft has filed
> > a patent application for what are essentially smilies :-) ;-) :-( ...
> > The patent is on converting them to graphics. If it passes, my program
> > Kmail would be in violation of their patent for having converted the :)
> > below to a smilie face on my screen.
>
> The words "prior art" spring to mind
Unfortunately, once a patent is issued, it can cost $100,000 or more to fight
a big company like Microsoft to have a patent overturned, even if you have
rock solid proof of prior art.
>
> Do you have documentation of when you implemented it?
I didn't implement Kmail, so I don't know when it became part of it.
>
> The patent is directed at Yahoo, however ICQ had the feature well before
> MSN even had a messenger system....
>
Well, let's hope the patent office wakes up to the reality of such requests.
>
> AB
--
Best regards,
Kern
(">
/\
V_V
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