Microsoft Patent Too Close To IPv6

Lawyers are scrutinizing a patent held by Microsoft

[StupidScript]

Here's the article from EWeek [eweek.com]

Yeesh. This explains one of MS's arguments for patent reform. They want to change the rights to file for a patent to a "first-to-file" system instead of the current "first-to-invent" system, meaning that whoever gets to the patent office first gets the patent, regardless of whether they invented the item to be patented.

When they can use their legal department to push a patent application for something they didn't even invent before the real inventor(s) can, it's pretty pitiful, and a sign of bad things for inventors. I can't say I'm surprised, though, given their "inventing" track record ... which is virtually non-existent.

In this case, MS employees attended early meetings in 1997-1998 with the Internet Engineering Task Force (The IETF is under the Internet Society umbrella) regarding IPv6 development which had been underway for some time before MS heard about it. MS withdrew from the discussions after a few months and then leaped to file a patent which "concerns automatic generation of IP addresses to facilitate simple network connections", and looks a whole lot like the work the IETF had been doing with IPv6 development.

Please read the article and comment.

[incrediBILL]

I've dealt directly with Microsoft from a couple of SV startups and all I'll say is they should see NOTHING before it's on the shelves at CompUSA.

[StupidScript]

Note that I haven't commented on the ramifications of MS owning the patent to the IPv6 protocol because it should be pretty obvious ... what with the need to turn a profit, and all ... and I know exactly what you're talking about, i'BILL. My heart goes out ...