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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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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 595 Views
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Hadn't seen that, no. - 09/01/2011 11:21:20 PM 631 Views
Re: Hadn't seen that, no. - 10/01/2011 04:59:53 PM 661 Views
Does M$ have U2 and Steves permission to use their names in that patent application? - 10/01/2011 07:46:54 PM 611 Views
Re: Does M$ have U2 and Steves permission to use their names in that patent application? - 10/01/2011 09:54:50 PM 615 Views
We need public oversight desperately. - 10/01/2011 11:10:55 PM 595 Views
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well your reply shows us what we end up with if we have over indulgent parnets - 10/01/2011 04:08:38 PM 582 Views
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Actually, I tend to agree, 'cos I somewhat agree with rt it diagnoses symptoms better than problems - 11/01/2011 11:53:48 PM 770 Views
Re: Actually, I tend to agree - 15/01/2011 08:04:58 PM 613 Views
Re: Actually, I tend to agree - 15/01/2011 11:30:08 PM 594 Views

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