[Am-info] Microsoft's new patent

[Erick Andrews]

On Thu, 13 Dec 2001 16:43:26 +0000, John Poltorak wrote:

>On Thu, Dec 13, 2001 at 11:13:46AM -0500, Joe Moore wrote:
>> I've read through Microsoft's new patent on Digital Rights Management
>> in the Operating System.
>> http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/search-adv.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=CR99&S1=5,892,900.UREF.&OS=ref/5,892,900&RS=REF/5,892,900
>> 
>> From my interpretation, when Microsoft implements technology that is protected
>> under this patent, you will have to shut down ALL "non-trusted" applications
>> in order to use your "trusted" application.
>> 
>> "You are trying to access content which can not be viewed while other
>> applications are running.  Exit Netscape and try again."
>> 
>> Using this patented technology means that only microsoft-blessed code 
>> can be run on your computer if you want to view microsoft-"protected"
>> content.  Wow.  <sarcasm>Are there any anticompetitive aspects to this?</>
>
>It's OK, anti-competitive behaviour by Microsoft is enshrined in the 
>American Constitution...
>
>In fact I think Microsoft are currently re-writing the American Constitution 
>to make it illegal for any other company to develop software unless it has 
>been explicitly approved from Redmond. There is even talk about Redmond 
>taking over from Washington DC as the capital since it too far for Bill 
>Gates to go to run the country.
> 

I understand your frustration and sarcasm.  I also fear that Gates has been
getting too close to Washington, Washington D.C., that is.

My theory is that with so much power that wealth brings, judges, senators,
attorneys general, and other politicos that know better are more fearful of 
retribution from M$ than they may be on the "take".  Such fear not to act
in defense of law is just another corruption.  Vote 'em out, I say.  Let
Wall Street reset its expectations.

-- 
Erick Andrews