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Does M$ have U2 and Steves permission to use their names in that patent application? Joel Send a noteboard - 10/01/2011 07:46:54 PM
Important issues ... the trouble with decade long important issues is it's usually the side with the deepest pockets that win out. Who can line up more copious amounts of bs for the longest and squawk it the loudest.

Ultimately it's still a constitutional republic though; if we all do our homework wiser heads will prevail, and if not the failing is ours as much as anyones.


Did you happen to see that Microsoft has applied for a patent "for being a fan." Yeah, so soon the decade long argument for all sport fans will be "Why do I need to pay Microsoft for being a Colts fan ?"

Frankly, I hope you're joking. Again I say, I don't trust Big Brother OR Big Business, and thus prefer to play them off against each other, since no single private citizen can overcome the resources and organization of either. Our best bet seems to be using what influence each of us has with both, combined with their natural distrust of each other, to play both ends against the middle (as they routinely do with us; the left says you can't trust private industry and the right says you can't trust the government, but while neither of them is really wrong, they aren't exactly "right" either. ;))


Actually I am not kidding. http://techflash.com/seattle/2011/01/microsoft-applies-for-patent-on-being.html

Yup .. clicking that "like" button or being a "fan" .. any one way relationship really ... will lead to royalties being paid to micro$oft FFS. Evilness.

If they're just trying to patent an app people click to become a fan online that's a little different, but I suspect the various people (and companies) already using those apps will dispute their right to the patent. Of course, if you've got Bill Gates money it may not matter, but I understood the Patent Office took a dim view of trying to patent things already in use, especially by others.
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I find this interesting on two levels: - 06/01/2011 11:33:31 PM 771 Views
As one of today's mental parents... - 07/01/2011 12:01:36 AM 888 Views
Agreed. - 07/01/2011 12:34:18 AM 834 Views
Re: Agreed. - 07/01/2011 03:04:53 PM 794 Views
Very interesting article, thanks for posting. - 07/01/2011 01:36:51 AM 830 Views
Not surprising. - 07/01/2011 01:52:57 PM 768 Views
Re: Not surprising. - 07/01/2011 02:21:55 PM 788 Views
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"Undiplomatic" is one thing, "inflammatory" quite another. - 07/01/2011 11:51:03 PM 630 Views
Re: "Undiplomatic" is one thing, "inflammatory" quite another. - 09/01/2011 12:20:47 AM 752 Views
If the stakes are small or there's no alternative I don't mind going with your gut. - 09/01/2011 01:20:42 AM 710 Views
Re: If the stakes are small or there's no alternative I don't mind going with your gut. - 09/01/2011 01:28:28 AM 653 Views
Sadly so. - 09/01/2011 01:32:23 AM 650 Views
Re: Sadly so. - 09/01/2011 01:41:39 AM 595 Views
Hadn't seen that, no. - 09/01/2011 11:21:20 PM 743 Views
Re: Hadn't seen that, no. - 10/01/2011 04:59:53 PM 778 Views
Does M$ have U2 and Steves permission to use their names in that patent application? - 10/01/2011 07:46:54 PM 719 Views
Re: Does M$ have U2 and Steves permission to use their names in that patent application? - 10/01/2011 09:54:50 PM 730 Views
We need public oversight desperately. - 10/01/2011 11:10:55 PM 718 Views
. *NM* - 09/01/2011 12:43:38 PM 351 Views
Re: . - 09/01/2011 10:40:00 PM 679 Views
well your reply shows us what we end up with if we have over indulgent parnets - 10/01/2011 04:08:38 PM 697 Views
It's a good article, but contains a bit of oversimplification. - 11/01/2011 09:36:35 PM 693 Views
Actually, I tend to agree, 'cos I somewhat agree with rt it diagnoses symptoms better than problems - 11/01/2011 11:53:48 PM 885 Views
Re: Actually, I tend to agree - 15/01/2011 08:04:58 PM 720 Views
Re: Actually, I tend to agree - 15/01/2011 11:30:08 PM 712 Views

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