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Article #43602CD-I/Software Patents
From: Joel Mathew Hegberg
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1993 16:02
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1993 16:02
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Since there was a lot of talk about software patents a couple weeks ago, I found a story on CNN news last night rather interesting, to say the least. CNN said that the big multimedia software creators experienced a "rude awakening" at a big computer show after Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia (which has been in development since the early to mid 80's) was granted a software patent on their processes. As it turns out, the patent is rather broad-based. Compton says basically the patent covers any program which uses multiple pointers into a database for anything other than standard text, and goes on to say this covers CD-I, DVI (?), the new emerging nationwide information highway, and interactive television services. Compton is using the strategic software patent to force alliances with many companies, ensuring itself a strong hold on what's going on. Oh, by the way, I will be joining the League for Programming Freedom shortly, which stands against software patents. I do have information here (about 20 pages printed) which describes what LPF is about and what it stands for, and if anyone would like a copy, just send me a note and I'll fwd it to you. ======================================================================= = JOEL MATHEW HEGBERG | = = INTERNET: JOELHEGBERG@DELPHI.COM | RUNNING OS-9/68000 ON = = DELPHI: JOELHEGBERG | AN MM/1 COMPUTER! = = GENIE: J.HEGBERG | = =======================================================================
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X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 110568,20717c6028246ccc,start X-Google-Attributes: gid110568,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1993-11-17 10:07:03 PST Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!gmd.de!newsserver.jvnc.net!news.cac.psu.edu!psuvm!auvm!NIUCS.BITNET!T900849 Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU Newsgroups: bit.listserv.coco Return-Path: <@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU:COCO@PUCC.BITNET> Message-ID: <COCO%93111711054717@PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU> Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1993 10:02:42 CST Reply-To: "Joel Mathew Hegberg" <T900849@NIUCS.BITNET> Sender: COCO - Tandy Color Computer List <COCO@PUCC.BITNET> From: "Joel Mathew Hegberg" <T900849@NIUCS.BITNET> Subject: CD-I/Software Patents Lines: 24