Microsoft patents "sudo"

[techieMoe]

Guys, let's keep this relevant to the topic of software patents and not get overly political.

Bill Gates and his masonic maffia cannot stop us.

I take issue with that statement. I happen to know quite a few Masons and they by and large are good people. There is no central governing body for the Masonic lodges throughout America, nor any evidence that they're anything other than a very old fraternal order of (surprise surprise) people interested in masonry, so the idea that they're some sort of Illuminati conspiracy bent on world domination is ridiculous.

Now if you want to talk about corporations taking over the world, that's a whole different topic.

[reed9]

Guys, let's keep this relevant to the topic of software patents and not get overly political.

I tried to restrict my comments to a statement of fact to avoid the politics bit. But I think the patent issue is political, and tied to the corporate issue.

Anyway, has anyone read any of the transcripts of the Bilski case before the Supreme Court? Some good stuff in there. I like this little exchange.

JUSTICE SCALIA: You know, you mention that there are all these -- these new areas that didn't exist in the past because of modern business and what-not, but there are also areas that existed in the past that don't exist today. Let's take training horses. Don't you think that -- that some people, horse whisperers or others, had some, you know, some insights into the best way to train horses? And that should have been patentable on your theory.
MR. JAKES: They might have, yes.

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_a...pts/08-964.pdf

[elija]

Won't prior art stop this at the first hurdle?

[Kieren]

Won't prior art stop this at the first hurdle?

That's what most people I've talked to about this think. But if Microsoft took someone to court over this then who could afford to fight?

[schwim]

United States of America strictly speaking. I wonder how other American nations (Canada, Mexico, all South America...) feel about hearing negative remarks meant for the US being simply directed to "America."

I can't imagine they take much issue with it. We're all aware that ignorance is global.

[D-cat]

Just a little fact checking. The 13th amendment abolishes slavery. Corporate personhood is asserted under the 14th amendment. The argument goes that the word "person" as used in the 14th amendment is not limited to natural persons, but also applies to artificial persons, ie, corporations.

Okay, my order of operations was backwards, but the result is the same regardless. Thanks for the correction. Still the point is that corporations used the 13th amendment to claim that restrictions in their charter were a form of slavery and thus unconstitutional. They won. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I am aware that corporations way outnumbered slaves in law suits seeking freedom under abolition.

We're all aware that ignorance is global.

*sigh* Sad but true.

“The sum of intelligence on the planet is a constant; the population is growing.” — Cole's Axiom

[bigvoo]

since all my distos use "sudo" I guess I'm breaking the law at this very minute, guess I'll just sit here and sip my coffee until the black ms helicoper lands on my lawn to take me away....!

[Bemk]

since all my distos use "sudo" I guess I'm breaking the law at this very minute, guess I'll just sit here and sip my coffee until the black ms helicoper lands on my lawn to take me away....!

Nah, they won't. If they would do it they would bust your front door with explosives. But if they would their credibility would be seriously compromised as they have said not to charge users with this kind of law suits. And I suspect that if they would use this patent, the Linux Defenders would jump into action.

[MikeTbob]

That's what most people I've talked to about this think. But if Microsoft took someone to court over this then who could afford to fight?

You could turn to the SFLC.
Software Freedom Law Center

[Hal343]

There are so many insane laws being passed that I have very little respect for most laws anymore. Patent and copyright laws are some of the ones that seem to be written for the benefit of corporations only, so my personal opinion is that corrupt laws should be ignored.