29-08-2005 01:04									#1
	This Won't Get Approval... Hopefully Increase Your PM Length

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph...=DN/20050156873

It speaks for itself.

--
Dan

	29-08-2005 01:07									#2
	Tired of ads?

They'll pass it just to spite us.

	29-08-2005 01:14									#3
	Got spare money?

I'm not keen on reading all of that. does that mean we have to pay licensing fees to use emoticons?

	29-08-2005 01:21									#4
	Increase Your PM Length

edit: ****, I can't afford that

	29-08-2005 01:28									#5
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what does this mean... in english please

	29-08-2005 01:30									#6
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

Microsoft is trying to patent smilies.

	29-08-2005 01:32									#7
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There is proof of previous existance of the thing being patented...

This is dead in the water

	29-08-2005 01:42									#8
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quote: Originally posted by Eli Microsoft is trying to patent smilies.

I'll suicide bomb them if this happens

	29-08-2005 01:50									#9
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DanQ posts in the OT!



Oh no, better make that :dance: to be on the safe side.

	29-08-2005 01:57									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Sava I'll suicide bomb them if this happens

	29-08-2005 02:02									#11
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Hold on, haven't smilies been around for some 20 years?


I think I'll patent the comma... Let's see how they like a cease and desist delivered to them, for unlawfull use of comma!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoticon

Frackin' 52 years!!! A bit too late, considering MS wasn't even around then...

	29-08-2005 02:07									#12
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I never use commas

	29-08-2005 02:15									#13
	Put an end to popups!

Well, I sure you use something derived from comma, so pay up.

	29-08-2005 02:17									#14
	Suffering from ads?

They're not patenting emoticons as far as I can tell.

They're patenting how you can use custom emoticons on MSN, for instance. That is, I can see the emoticon someone I'm talking to uses even when I don't yet have that image myself, or I'll see the character sequence they use for it if I have emoticons turned off.

	29-08-2005 02:30									#15
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I know, but this was done before January 20, 2004 already as well.

	29-08-2005 02:45									#16
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That's ridiculous.

This patent should be thrown out.

Talk about monopoly action, I mean I generally roll my eyes at the rabid Microsoft hate, but this is outright ridiculous.

If I was the judge, I'd rule something like, "this is a collective culture 'icon' that cannot be owned by one person. PS I PWN N00BS OMG BOOM HEADSHOT ROFL LOL!!1111"

	29-08-2005 04:05									#17
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Oh it is ridiculous and should be thrown out. However I know how these things can go and it'll probably come into force

	29-08-2005 09:24									#18
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Unfortunately, there are massive amounts of idiotic patents granted by the USPTO every year. My pet peeve is the perpetual motion machines - the current favourite variant are devices with total ouput greater than total input.

The US patent law desperately needs an overhaul - a sensible one, that is.

	29-08-2005 09:27									#19
	Tired of ads?

I think I'll patent the internet. No wait.. I'll patent life. COME ON EVERYONE, PAY UP! You've been living free all these days... time for me to get what I deserve, everyone, line up and pay for every day you have lived.

	29-08-2005 09:29									#20
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger The US patent law desperately needs an overhaul - a sensible one, that is.

QFT

	29-08-2005 09:30									#21
	Suffering from ads?

can I patent water?

	29-08-2005 09:36									#22
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Are they trying to patent all smilies or just custom ones that they created for MSN?

	29-08-2005 11:16									#23
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No... they are trying to patent smilies *transmission*. I'm not too good at reading that stuff but they might also be only trying to patent it for smilies measuring 19x19pixels, I assume so it's not a total monopoly of the concept but means that other messengers wont be able to use the msn smilies*.
* and specifically the smilies that msn users create for their own use, since no doubt those butt-ugly msn smilies are already copyrighted.

* Lets try again. They are trying to make it so if someone creates a custom smiley for msn it'll be inconvenient to use it with any other messenger. Since they can't copyright work created by users for "personal" p2p use microsoft instead wants to erect some other artifical barriers to try to "entrap" msn users. M$ is just being lame.

Last edited by Blake on 29-08-2005 at 11:37

	29-08-2005 11:21									#24
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Tattila the Hun Hold on, haven't smilies been around for some 20 years? I think I'll patent the comma... Let's see how they like a cease and desist delivered to them, for unlawfull use of comma! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoticon Frackin' 52 years!!! A bit too late, considering MS wasn't even around then...

Patent the letter 'M', then the letter 'W' just out of spite.

	29-08-2005 11:48									#25
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Then we just need to quit using MSN. It's not so great that it'll be missed.

	29-08-2005 12:46									#26
	Put an end to popups!

They should patent "Ctrl-alt-del", it is a real step forward compared to prior art

	29-08-2005 12:51									#27
	Tired of ads?

Patent US6368227

quote: I claim: 1. A method of swinging on a swing, the method comprising the steps of: a) suspending a seat for supporting a user between only two chains that are hung from a tree branch; b) positioning a user on the seat so that the user is facing a direction perpendicular to the tree branch; c) having the user pull alternately on one chain to induce movement of the user and the swing toward one side, and then on the other chain to induce movement of the user and the swing toward the other side; and d) repeating step c) to create side-to-side swinging motion, relative to the user, that is parallel to the tree branch. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is practiced independently by the user to create the side-to-side motion from an initial dead stop. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of: e) inducing a component of forward and back motion into the swinging motion, resulting in a swinging path that is generally shaped as an oval. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the magnitude of the component of forward and back motion is less than the component of side-to-side motion.

	30-08-2005 08:33									#28
	Remove this text

Nice spoof, CO

	30-08-2005 08:36									#29
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quote: Originally posted by Blake No... they are trying to patent smilies *transmission*.

I don't see how that can work - smilies has been around for decades, and they always have been transmitted the same way.

quote: Originally posted by Blake M$ is just being lame.

Microsoft has been on a rampage to secure software patents in the recent years. Their intent is quite clear.