High court wrestles with software patent questions

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Did I read this right?

MS accepts that they infringe on AT&T's patent in the US, but not outside the US?

Let's see - MS gives an OEM a gold disc and the OEM uses it to load Windows onto a computer. If the OEM does that in the US, AT&T's patent is infringed. If the OEM does it outside the US, AT&T's patent isn't infringed.

That sounds quite absurd to me.

Further, MS are saying that the gold disk is just a blueprint, not a product. So how can they extend licence agreements to products made from a blueprint? What are people licencing when they buy Windows? My EULA clearly states that what I have is a Microsoft product, not a Toshiba product that is made under licence based on a blueprint from Microsoft.

Seems to me the legal guys have made the situation so confused as to make it impossible for anyone to understand the fundamentals. And that suits those who'd rather work outside the system than within it.

Posted by: Fred Fredrickson   Posted on: 02/21/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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