Re: [chairs] XML - What, Why, How?

["David Webber \(XML\)" <david@drrw.info>]

Tony,

 

It has been well documented that the software patent process is completely

broken - and this laughable latest episode only reinforces that.  Its a

great poster child for how Microsoft is being held hostage by patent

lawyers in their own employ and a parasitic USPTO that is addicted

to fees from the software industry.

 

Clearly the examiners are completely clueless and misdirected, not to

mention that they are allowed an entire 13.5 man hours to process the

whole patent application - total.

 

If the analogy is terrorists, and companies and nuclear bombs - anyone

can file to the USPTO anything for $375.00 and a slick patent attourneys

name on the docket (OK that will run you $10,000+) - and get handed

a nuclear bomb and a nice gold embossed certificate from the US Gov'

with instructions on how to use it.

 

Perhaps a consolidated alliance between ACM, IEEE, W3C, OASIS and

others, like BCM, can demand that USA and Europe simply abandon

issuing software patents. 

 

It just not make sense anymore (and probably never did) given the

highly collaborative nature of software and the notion of "invention"

being perverted to mean any kind of chimpaneses tapping away on

the proverbial keyboards.

 

DW

----- Original Message -----

From: Tony Rutkowski

To: Smoter Susan ; 'ejones@warningsystems.com' ; 'david@drrw.info' ; 'chairs@lists.oasis-open.org'

Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 9:31 AM

Subject: Re: [chairs] XML - What, Why, How?

Along these lines, has anyone treated the
ongoing XML patent controversy?

See coverage, e.g., in ZDnet UK
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/applications/0,39020384,39200357,00.htm

--tony