Microsoft replies on RSS patent story
Dec 26th, 2006 @ 00:13Via Geek News Central I found out, that Microsoft actually has replied to the story, posts and rumours on the RSS reader patent.
Read Microsoft's Sean Lyndersay's post on it. He's "Program Manager Lead, RSS" at Microsoft.
He doesn't however, in my view, really tell us why they have applied for the patent. The closest he gets to that are in these two paragraphs:
First, these patents describe specific ways to improve the RSS end-user and developer experience (which we believe are valuable and innovative contributions) — they do not constitute a claim that Microsoft invented RSS.
[...]
Finally, as a number of commenters have noted, we are far from the only company to apply for patent protection in this space. Other companies, including Apple and Google, have apparently also applied for patents. Applying for a patent on your innovation is common industry practice, and one which, by incenting and protecting the companies and people involved, encourages everyone to contribute to the community.
But read it and decide for yourself, what you think and/or make of it.
However, I still don't get why Microsoft feel that they want to patent it. There are loads of various RSS readers out there…?
Update 1: And of course a merry Christmas to all of you :D
Related postsTags: Feeds, Microsoft, Patents, RSS