When is this patent BS going to end? How can companies get away with merely looking around the marketplace and patenting successful things they find?! It makes no sense.
A telephone system wherein all the functions of a digital telephone can be accessed and implemented on a personal computer alone, thereby eliminating the need for a telephone set. By means of the computer display and mouse, keyboard or other input/output command devices, a user accesses and implement all digital telephone functions without the physical telephone set, the personal computer also providing the audio function. A graphical representation of a telephone set or other telephone-related form is provided on the computer display and accessed by the mouse, keyboard or other command device, this being accomplished by a computer program providing graphical interface implementation. A significant advantage of the system is computer access to and utilization of digital telephone functions from a remote location with communication via Internet, LAN, WAN, RAS or other mediums.
Sometimes Microsoft acts like the plague.
They can make you sick.
Very sick.
Hmmmm, has the patent system been patented yet ? ….
Actually, the assignee on this patent is Intel, not Microsoft, but I certainly agree with any criticisms of what our patent system is becoming (and how Microsoft is often the offender). The system is badly in need of an overhaul so that large corporations can’t use patents for such basic ideas to stifle innovation by smaller companies. Too many patents are being issued for software “inventions” that are far too obvious.
Editor’s Note: Thanks Gary, it’s fixed!
Singling out Microsoft for what is an American national preoccupation, seems as silly as the presumption that Skype invented VoIP.
“Singling out Microsoft for what is an American national preoccupation, seems as silly as the presumption that Skype invented VoIP.”
First, I fixed the headline, it makes no mention of Microsoft now. I screwed up and admit it.
Second, I never claimed that Skype invented VoIP anywhere. Heck, I remember “talking” over the internet way back in 1996. And I imagine it was going on way before that.
…or other mediums.
Not only are they greedy but they don’t even know the correct plural of “medium”!
A patent system that discourages garage inventors like the Steves from Apple is just one more result of letting corporations run the government. But that won’t stop Congress from kowtowing to the corporate bucks.
As Dvorak (I think it was) observed elsewhere, any 535 geeks in a room will be collectively smarter than Congress. Our congressmen and senators are either too corrupt or too stupid to recognize when they’re fouling up a working system. My daddy told me never to blame conspiracy when simple stupidity is sufficient to explain. Throw in cupidity and I think he had it nailed.
I remember PowWow from the mid-90s… sending voice over IP is hardly a new thing… sure, Intel probably have a new cute approach to it, so let’s patent… Wintel sucks. 😛
Ummm,
I dont think they can do anything for something that is given away FREE.
9 I dont think they can do anything for something that is given away FREE.
Why not?
Can Skype continue to distribute an “infringing” technology for free if it has to pay licensing fees?
Can Skype continue to charge for the “Skype Out” connections to the conventional phone system if it is considered “infringing” on the patent?
Intel can “make nice” with duopoly “partners” who want their cable/DSL customers to use duopoly-based VOIP, if the duopolies use Intel-based hardware…
Actually, I saw the Intel reference but forgot to pick up on it. I won’t rub it in SN 😉
Anyway, that does not in any way, shape or pattern put MS in a “Sorry dude, you’re nice after all” category.
So, my comment #1 should be redirected to the
Ballmer: Linux users owe Microsoft story with full force 😀 YES!
#5
I still have Quarterdeck’s WebTalk in a retail box from 1995. (I know it’s not exactly VoIP). But please don’t tell anyone. I don’t want Intel coming after me…..
Just to point out that this particular patent was filled “February 25, 2000”
Skype was founded in 2003.
… or other mediums.
Illiterate too – unless they are indeed talking about spiritual communication, something making about as much sense as this.
I admit I don’t know much about the patent process, but my understanding is that patents are not issued for ideas that have already been introduced into commerce. If this is so, then many of the patents are being issued by clerks that are either too inept or too lazy to conduct the proper research.
Well i have a patent on typed word, so you guys better pay up.
13 Just to point out that this particular patent was filled “February 25, 2000″
Skype was founded in 2003.
And patent #7,120,140 appears to have been issued/granted on October 10, 2006…
Reminds me of Amazon.com getting the patent on “1-click” shopping, which raised such an uproar when Amazon started trying to collect licensing fees.
ECA – You have a fundamental misunderstanding of patents, law, and the concept of “free” as it applies here (which… well.. it doesn’t).
Basically – you’re about as wrong as you could get.
Perhaps the patent office should also require patent holders to successfully create and lead a market of their inventions within a reasonable amount of time. Otherwise, they will loose the patent.
That should take care of those companies that apply for patents on vague concepts and just sit on them. Sort of a “Use it or loose it” concept. And when I mean use it, I don’t mean suing others. I mean actually producing and selling the product.
#7 Your statement can’t be true, since lawyers are the common denominator in Congress and Patent Law. Didn’t you know that lawyers can’t contribute to the GNP since they don’t create wealth but only redistribute it.
Come on, you guys use your Patent system in the war on terror!
Patent the “method for inflicting geopolitical and psychological damage to a nation by flying planes into tall buildings, preferably coördinated”
Then sue the hell out of Al Qaeda and Osama
Damn, I actually like Skype and Intel doesn’t even have anything out to market yet! (At least that I know of)
I hope someone else can show “prior art”, so that this doesn’t mean the end of free Skype!
DOH! Ok, cancel what I said about Intel not having anything to market yet. Should’ve done some homework first:
http://www.intel.com/netcomms/technologies/voice/voip.htm
If you read their website, Intel and Skype have already partnered up. So, this is a NON-STORY.
p.s. I need to quit hitting that “Say It!” button so damn quickly. It’s just so inviting…
Americans shouldn’t be using Skype. This is just Benedict Arnold outsourcing at its worst.
Man, I could sure use a shot of paradigm here; where do you suppose all this is going ? Me, I dunno but, I remember (I love my memory, it’s totally fallible and easy for me to weasel out of something I said based on it..) I watched a movie on IFC titled “The Corporation” the gist of which seemed to be that there is an organization of most of the world’s major coporations whose fundamental belief is that every aspect of our world and our lives within it should be copyrighted and there should be one and only one entity who owns each copyright…that outta fly as far as the next world war over who gets what but, I digress ( A LOT) and it did have some compelling ideas… a few.. So, maybe the DMCA going to Sweden for international ratification means something ?!?