MS in trouble for XML implementation!

[zeroradius]

So Microsoft is being sued because of the way they implemented XML into MS Word. (You can read the article here: Microsoft Word sale prohibited as of Jan. 11, fix promised : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech )


This doesn't seem fair to me. How can there be a copyright on the way you implement a language? Thats like copy righting the way you tie your shoes. What are your thoughts on this?


Edit: i read a few more articles, some are saying they infringed on a patented xml editor ..... Wish they would get the story straight. If they stole there source code then i understand. If they built a similar program than its a big pile of cow droppings.

[WingedPanther]

It's a patent infringement suit, which I think is even stupider. XML is just a file format. How on Earth can you have a "fancy" way to read a text file?

[zeroradius]

With this passing more idiots will get the idea of doing similar suits. The problem is judges don't generally understand anything about programming. This is the equivalent of one engine company suing another engine company because they both use oil for lubrication. They should have a judge that is trained in programming just for stupid things like this.


Edit: just read this in another article:

The injunction prevents Microsoft from selling Word products that have the capability of opening an XML file containing custom XML.

[WingedPanther]

This is why there should NOT be software patents. Normally, I enjoy seeing Microsoft get it, but I think this is just stupid.

[zeroradius]

I thought you could only copyright your software and that would be so people don't
t steal your program. Apparently I was wrong. I really want to see a war cry from programmers that brings this to the supreme court and gets overturned. I know this is going to end badly for the rest of us. I think maybe i should patent how to implement PHP ..... I could make a killing.

[WingedPanther]

There's been complaints for a while, but it makes lawyers and the patent office money.