The end of embedded objects on the web?

What impact will the recent court case of Eolas vs. Microsoft have?

[edicius]

As many are aware - Microsoft was recently involved in a court case over US Patent 5,838,906 with Eolas, regarding the mechanisms that enabled Internet Explorer to call/use embedded objects. Microsoft was found to have violated the patent and fined $521 million dollars (US).

The W3C held a meeting of its members on August 19th to discuss this issue and its impact, releasing a statement regarding the organizations' concerns yesterday (http://www.w3.org/2003/08/patent).

I guess the question/topic is - in what ways do you see this outcome impacting the web development world? I for one have stayed away from the Macromedia Flash, embedded video and other more 'plug-in' based web technologies in the past(mostly due to the requirements of my clients not needing these types of features), but what does this do to the development landscape and our ability to deliver this type of content? Should we start looking at other alternatives to these now pretty standard mediums, or would this be too over-reactive?

[msr986]

In the near term, Microsoft has indicated to W3C that they will very soon be making changes to its Internet Explorer browser software in response to this ruling. These changes may affect a large number of existing Web pages.

I guess MS will be the one's to watch. I wouldn't do a thing until we know what direction this will take.

[bcolflesh]

Check out the comments on this development at /. as well:

slashdot.org/articles/03/08/28/133211.shtml?tid=113&tid=123&tid=126&tid=155&tid=95&tid=99

[moltar]

I am glad it finally happened!

[bcolflesh]

I am glad it finally happened!

Really? The only people I see this having a damaging effect on are the other browser players - this isn't a blow to MS at all, you could even argue that this strengthens their embedded browser "get out litigation free" ploy.

[moltar]

I just don't like embeded objects in web pages :) I am a sort of a minimalist.

[bcolflesh]

I just don't like embedded objects in web pages...

I agree with you there - let's hope Flash dies the same death as Java - and soon.

[wingnut]

Oh do behave. Lets all go back to dodgy gif animations and marble effect background tiles.

There is a vast audience out there who respond to well designed web sites with sound and movement. The fact that old hacks cannot/do not respond to this sort of media should not mean it is denied to the rest of us.

[Mark_A]

Can someone please translate the ruling on IE into more plain english ... I do on occasion embed flash objects into pages and they display also in later versions of netscape and also Opera ... not earlier versions of N e.g. 4.7 ..

So how is IE different?
And will Opera also change or will IE simply employ the method that opera uses?

[engine]

wingnut, Welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com]

I agree that it is time to move on from dodgy animations. We do need to strike a balance that will be effective to the widest/target audience.

It looks like it'll backfire and we'll end up with an MS embedded browser, once again closing the door on alternatives.

[thewebboy]

Those Flash/Java things are especially annoying when you HAVE to load it in order to get to them main page. I hate that. I also don't like when some flash/pages start play songs/music/midi I think that is slightly related.

[nancyb]

don't know enough about this to tell if this article has much credence, but couldn't find any reference on WebmasterWorld so thought I'd post it in case someone finds it useful/interesting

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