Wasn't there a compression patent held by IBM for which an earlier
patent on exactly the same algorithm already exists?
> > Doesn't the leader in over-the-top business aggression, Microsoft,
> > have a patent on using XOR to toggle a cursor?
Actually it wasn't Microsoft but a tiny video graphics equipment
manufacturer from the 70s, the patent was later acquired by HP. The
essence of the patent, however, was hardware split-screen and panning,
in a way every VGA can do (and the Atari 400/800 display list
processor already could). They claimed IBM and other big players paid
royalties.
> > The Patent Office would thank us.
> No they won't -- they make money from patents. Presumably the more
At least they have stopped accepting perpetuum mobile entries, or so
the saying goes...
Olaf
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