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[News] Microsoft's Lies About OOXML Patents Rebutted

  • Subject: [News] Microsoft's Lies About OOXML Patents Rebutted
  • From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:36:25 +0000
  • Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy
  • Organization: Netscape / schestowitz.com
  • User-agent: KNode/0.10.4
Developer’s Beware: OOXML – IPR: Minding the Gaps and Why They Matter

,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft has a patent promise, the Open Specification Promise (OSP) and a 
| Covenant Not to Sue, relating to OOXML. If you want to implement OOXML with 
| confidence that you are not infringing on any intellectual property rights 
| (IPR), these coverages are not adequate. They have gaps.   
`----

http://www.odfalliance.org/resources/IssueBriefIPR.pdf

Interoperability the ELIZA way

,----[ Quote ]
| * So, now I have an Ecma standard, but ISO doesn't like it
| > Come, come, elucidate your thoughts.
| *The open source zealots don't respect our standards
| > I'm not sure I understand you fully.
| * They are thieving communists who don't respect intellectual property
| > What do you think?
| * I think we should outlaw open source
| > Do you really think so?
| * Yes, otherwise there will be no more innovation
| > Why no?
| * Because without profit there is no incentive to innovate
| > Why no?
| * Without profit, no one would work
| > Why no?
| * What are you, some sort of communist?
| > Would you prefer if I were not some sort of communist?
| * Yes, better dead than red
| > I understand.
| * OK. So we need an ISO so we can continue innovation
| > Come, come, elucidate your thoughts.
| * An ISO allows us to sell the same old MS Office we always had with our 
| monopolist's profit margin. That is how we ensure innovation. 
| > What do you think?
| * I have a monopoly.
| > You have a monopoly?
| * Yes, otherwise we would not be able to claim innovation by having an ISO 
| format that merely mimics a 10-year old legacy format. 
| > I see.
| 
| [...]
| 
| So, if anyone shows you interoperability, ask yourself whether both sides of 
| the interaction actually fully understand the data that is being exchanged. 
| If not, this is not really full interoperability. It is just an illusion.  
`----

http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/01/interoperability-eliza-way.html

What about inventors who cannot get even started because of too many patents (a
maze)? Patents can ruin innovation, too.


Related:

IP Issues with OOXML (DIS 29500)

,----[ Quote ]
| Out of all the free and open source licences which are available, there are 
| two which are disproportionately chosen by FOSS developers when licensing 
| their software. Those two are the GPL and the LGPL. Of these, the GPL is 
| disproportionately favoured over the LGPL.* If there are issues with GPL 
| implementations then there are IP issues with OOXML. Any assurance that 
| excludes implementation under these licences is just cause for the FOSS 
| community to voice concern.      
| 
| [...]
| 
| If there are issues with GPL implementations then there are IP issues with 
| OOXML. Microsoft implicitly concedes there are issues with GPL 
| implementations.  
`----

http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/ip-issues-with-ooxml-dis-29500/


By Metes and Bounds

,----[ Quote ]
| But you might say, "Please Rob, you can't be serious. Who would try to get a 
| patent on laying out a footnote? That just doesn't happen in the real world." 
| 
| But consider for Microsoft's patent application "Method and computer readable 
| medium for laying out footnotes" (US20060156225A1). I'm not saying that 
| application matches the above feature in the standard, but if it did, is 
| there anyone who will argue that the Open Specification Promise would not 
| apply in this case?    
`----

http://www.robweir.com/blog/2008/02/by-metes-and-bounds.html


Defensive Patents, Other Fairy Tales

,----[ Quote ]
| "Defensive patents" make as much sense as leaving a loaded gun around the 
| house. Like a home robbery, it is more likely it will be used against the 
| home owner then the intruder.  
`----

http://krow.livejournal.com/578868.html


Microsoft patents by Brian Jones

,----[ Quote ]
| For fun we just did a quick search of published US patent applications 
| with "Brian Jones" as an author, and "Microsoft" as the assignee. 
| 
| [...]
| 
| Some of these, like the packing ones, seem to apply directly to OOXML. What 
| isn't clear to us is why Microsoft would pursue patent protection for patents 
| rights that their are promising that they won't assert over users of OOXML.  
`----

http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-35323/microsoft-patents-by-brian-jones


Wishful Spinning

,----[ Quote ]
| OOXML gets adopted. More and more projects are started. Let's see which of 
| these would survive without funding. Meanwhile a spin factory sends out 
| success stories that most bloggers find worthless to discuss. It is possible 
| to get the Krauts on board that are supposed to review OOXML but would OOXML 
| survive a review by the crowds?    
`----

http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-35292/wishful-spinning


Digging in the Comments: Patents

,----[ Quote ]
| Patent licensing is probably the most important aspect for all third parties 
| that want to implement or use the Open XML specification. Unfortunately the 
| Ballot Resolution Meeting cannot discuss these aspects because only technical 
| and editorial issues would get resolved.   
| 
| [...]
| 
| When you have a patent which covers Open XML and you refuse to license it, 
| the standard process gets stalled. Large companies in the standardization 
| process are reluctant to use that nuke option. Given the ambush that the 
| software patent practice means today it is quite possible that Open XML 
| infringes a patent and all parties eventually have an obligation to license 
| it.     
`----

http://www.noooxml.org/forum/t-31491/digging-in-the-comments:patents


Patent threat looms large over OOXML

,----[ Quote ]
| "If OOXML goes through as an ISO standard, the IT industry, government and 
| business will encumbered with a 6000-page specification peppered with 
| potential patent liabilities" said NZOSS President Don Christie.  
| 
| "Patent threats have already been used to spread doubt amongst organisations 
| keen to take advantage of the benefits of open source. No one knows whether 
| such claims have any merit, but it is calculated to deter the development and 
| use of open and alternative toolsets."   
`----

http://nzoss.org.nz/node/179


Cyberlaw OOXML Seminar 14 December

,----[ Quote ]
| However, this raises the issue - what assurance does a developer have that 
| such a large specification is not the subject of third party patent claims?  
|       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| The pedigree of the specification is certainly no reason for hope, Microsoft 
| has been the target of third party patent claims for some time now including 
| some high profile losses in patent suits. The fact that the specification has 
| been developed behind closed doors and on a fast track means that there has 
| been no adequate opportunity to evaluate the likelihood of third party patent 
| claims against the specifications. The sheer size of the document suggests 
| there will be at least a couple hiding in there somewhere.       
`----

http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/cyberlaw-ooxml-seminar-14-december/


ISO warned about possible patent violations of DIS29500 (aka OOXML)

,----[ Quote ]
| I have just send the following email to ISO members (you can find some of 
| their email addresses on the INCTIS website) to warn them about the possible  
| patent ambush... 
`----

http://jeremywang67.blogspot.com/2008/01/iso-warned-about-possible-patent.html

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