[OT] browser plugin patents - warning!

[Mark Brownell]

On Friday, September 12, 2003, at 04:47  PM, Tuviah Snyder wrote:

> Wow how will this impact Java. Looks like Eolas has managed to disable 
> Java
> in ways MS never could.
>
> Looks like these days maybe developers should spend less time coding 
> as more
> time at the patent office.

Have you looked lately at how much it costs to litigate a patent 
infringement lawsuit? Anyone might be better off opening a coffee shop 
near the lunch room. Then again anyone can use the prier art clause to 
prevent others from patenting their new ideas. Just publish the idea on 
the web and nobody can patent it.

I can't believe this. "Write once, run anywhere." Hah! Run for the 
hills more like. This will put an end to the website executable 
movement that has just begun to take off. Think about this too; what 
about SSL 128 bit encryption. Will this mean that that will need to be 
closed from its current use?