That is totally bogus, and microsoft should know it. If whoever handles the patents half-way knows his stuff, then it'll get thrown out. Just because you file for a patent doesn't mean it has to be granted.
I like the fact they are trying to patent something that sounds exactly like OpenOffice - XML formatted word processor documents. Maybe they are getting scared.
a_claudiu wrote:Only if you want to store the information in the Word xml document format.
Nope. If the patent would be granted (which I fear is possible) any XML document format used by Word-Processors would be property of MS, Including OpenOffice.org's
a_claudiu wrote:Only if you want to store the information in the Word xml document format.
Nope. If the patent would be granted (which I fear is possible) any XML document format used by Word-Processors would be property of MS, Including OpenOffice.org's
Acording to my knoledge of stupid american patent laws the patent will be granted anyway even if it's valid or not, is more a matter of registration fees.
If it's valid or not this is another story. The patents are not valid if it is proven that at that time that technology or idea is already used. If not I can have a fun ideea of patenting the Newton law, the ligth bulb, the hammer or ...