On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:16:54 -0400, "Mike Hall - MVP"
<mikehall@mvps.org> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Gene
>
>That is what I was thinking exactly. There can't be too many ways to make a
>system that prevents piracy..[/color]

In order to get a patent, you have to show that your idea is unique
and different than what is already on file. While it's possible MS
accidentally did something that was already in a patent, it would be a
reasonable assumption that a company with that many lawyers on
retainer and that many infringement suits in both directions has a
legal staff review development plans ahead of time.

So, even if they came up with the idea without knowledge that another
patent existed, they most likely uncovered it and decided that their
implementation was different enough not to be infringement - or that
the benefits of using the technology outweighed the possible lawsuit.
I'd go for the latter. MS has a reputation for running roughshod over
other companies and their patents, then trying to bully them into
submission through legal maneuvers. Nothing new here.