Anthony Pace wrote: > Good work, but not so unique his patents should hold developers back > from taking it ten steps further.
You may be right--I hope you are--but I have ceased to try to understand U.S. patent law. If a company can patent an *idea* like plug-ins, and force companies like Microsoft to pay up and/or use other technology, who knows what can be patented? <rant>Patent law is supposed to encourage innovation. The way it's being used, at least in America these days, *discourages* innovation. Anybody with a two-bit idea can patent it, and the onus is on others to prove prior art. Copyright law is going the same way. In a twisted sense, I have some sympathy for China and other countries that ignore intellectual-property laws.</rant> Cordially, Kerry Thompson _______________________________________________ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
