7 ms·
It's really hard to tell based on an article like this. The ANS creator is quoted as saying, "I don't know what to do with it - [Microsoft's patent] looks like
by SloopJon 5y ago
It's really hard to tell based on an article like this. The ANS creator is quoted as saying, "I don't know what to do with it - [Microsoft's patent] looks like just the description of the standard algorithm." However, who knows how much experience he has with patents? It may be that Duda invented the shoelace, and Microsoft invented the plastic sleeve at the tip of the shoelace.
As Timothy Lee says in the article, the problem with this type of patent is that it boxes in how you can use the original technology: you can freely tie your shoes with this shoelace, but if you use a double knot, now you infringe a patent.
In some ways, this mirrors the difference between copyleft and permissive copright licenses. By failing to patent the original invention, Duda made ANS useful and widely available, but he now has no leverage against Microsoft.
- inetknght 5y ago> By failing to patent the original invention, Duda made ANS useful and widely available, but he now has no leverage against Microsoft. Except, he can challenge Microsoft's patent on prior art terms
- midjji 5y agoWith the money he made by making it free?
- yyyk 5y agoHow could any normal person possibly afford challenging Microsoft in court?
- tomrod 5y agoBy taking it to court. If support is necessary, support can be raised. Big is not invincible.
- ffhhj 5y agoMoney is the actual limitation.
- asah 5y agomore likely: 1. MSFT attempts to assert patent 2. Defender says haha 3. MSFT files motion with court 4. Defender calls MSFT: "you want your patent invalidated, because this is how you get your patent invalidated" 5. <back and forth> 6. Defender pays $, MSFT withdraws motion from court. even more likely: 1. MSFT doesn't take companies to court on patents - that's not their business model 2. In the next mega cross-licensing negotiation between MSFT and <Google, IBM, etc> said patent it added to a pile of 1000s of others. 3. Little stack pays bigger stack by the inch (not joking) 4. Your cellphone is $1 more expensive 5. Patent attorney's kid goes to college. Yours does too. 6. Attorney's kid goes debt-free. Yours does not. (pls correct me if there's a more modern version)
- HideousKojima 5y ago>and Microsoft invented the plastic sleeve at the tip of the shoelace. That's called the aglet