You should not be able to patent data exchange formats; getting money from said patents makes one take a huge karma hit.
I made a sabbatical in hating Microsoft for a few years but now I see why it is important for me to resume doing so.
I made a sabbatical in hating Microsoft for a few years but now I see why it is important for me to resume doing so.
I fully agree. I despise patents on anything that stifles interoperability. However this wasn't anything new. Din't we grow up with patents on GIF? Isn't Apple doing the same with patents on NFC sessions? [1] Or Google with their proprietary file system[2]? Don't even get me started on the bucket load of patents IBM has collected over the decade. Then why single out Microsoft? Patent wars between corporations is nothing new. (However, I would develop a deep hatred if they went after non-profit org like Linux with this.)
The point I am trying to make is, it was/is common for corporations to file patents on most trivial things. I find the Patent Office at fault here.
[1]http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2013/05/apple-fi...
[2]http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/06/google-file-system-...
One thing is to patent, the other thing is to enforce a bogus patent/"license" it and collect money. The latter has no excuses for a product company.
It's not about filing patents. Patents are routinely filed for defensive purpose and it's hard to blame the companies that do it, especially in light of the abuse by e.g. Microsoft. It's what companies do with the patents. Like getting Motorola phones banned in Germany due to FAT16 patent infringement [1].
[1] http://www.zdnet.com/motorola-android-devices-banned-in-germ...