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Patents don't protect
It's called "preemptive publication."

If, for instance, I were to publish my work instead of filing for a patent it would prevent others from patenting it just as though I'd patented it myself. The only drawback is that the USPTO wouldn't find my publication when doing a prior-art search (because the only database they search is their own).

Proof of prior invention is an absolute defense in patent cases, so the only question is whether someone would be stupid enough to file an infringement action in the face of an IETF submission prior to their "invention."

Face it: patents are offensive weapons. Their only use is to exclude participants from the market. So-called "defensive patents" are defensive in the same sense that the US nuclear arsenal is: Mutually Assured Destruction.
Posted by: Yagotta B. Kidding   Posted on: 08/12/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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But..  Jeff Spicoli | 08/12/04
No thanks, not if it's Microsoft  shawkins | 08/12/04
Dude, who cares??? Seriously...  Stellardyne | 08/12/04
Microsoft could care less about fighting spam  Jeff Spicoli | 08/12/04
Yes, I know Microsoft Cares  KyleLC | 08/13/04
Your mail is spam  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
I care  OhMyGosh | 08/13/04
Technology?  nomorems | 08/12/04
the ip is in the header already is it not? (NT)  V Sanders | 08/12/04
Yes, sort of  Patrick Jones | 08/12/04
but  seosamh_z | 08/12/04
Partially...  Patrick Jones | 08/13/04
But partially  seosamh_z | 08/13/04
What? No comment from No_Ax?  itanalyst | 08/12/04
He's busy patching..  Jeff Spicoli | 08/12/04
SP2 downloaded  mikeybrass | 08/12/04
You're funny  Fred Fredrickson | 08/12/04
Longhorn anyone?  nomorems | 08/12/04
Presumption...  mikeybrass | 08/13/04
*shakes head*  mikeybrass | 08/13/04
Yah and wher's Mikey (NT)  daveswan | 08/12/04
*LOL* Good one IT Analyst... (NT)  Stellardyne | 08/12/04
License problem sorted yet?  Nigel Johnstone | 08/12/04
Hey if you can't trust Microsoft  skeptic tank | 08/12/04
Patents depending  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
Government intervention  medezark | 08/12/04
But  seosamh_z | 08/12/04
Not all doom and gloom  Fred Fredrickson | 08/12/04
Patents don't protect  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
Yes but...  Fred Fredrickson | 08/12/04
There's gotta be..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/12/04
Bunch of whingers  mikeybrass | 08/12/04
Strings attached  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
Brought it on themselves  nomorems | 08/12/04
Not if it is from Micro$sux$ALOT!  NonZealot | 08/12/04
nice, but.....  Suicida| | 08/12/04
Another "One click" patent will hand email to MS  Sleveless | 08/13/04
White Man Speak With Forked Tongue  ParadigmOdyssey | 08/14/04
Add Sender ID Support to your Windows SMTP!  aloaha | 08/31/04

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