● 06.10.11
●● SCOTUS Reinforces Its Position of Hostility Towards Science and Technology
Posted in America, Courtroom, Law, Microsoft, Open XML, Patents at 7:25 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), comprising no scientists, rules in favour of software patents and thus endorses a $290 million fine, affecting OOXML
AS PROMISED, this is a standalone post about the i4i ruling at the SCOTUS.
So the news is just about everywhere, especially in the Canadian press (because i4i is a Canadian company). The SCOTUS ruled against Microsoft as we mentioned earlier. King of the trolls, Microsoft, suffers from a verdict which is good news for patent trolls. The i4i case is not about patent trolls (in fact, i4i does have products), but the consequence of it is that rogue patents get legitimacy from the incompetent and at times technically-illiterate SCOTUS (they went to law school many decades ago). The SCOTUS is against fundamental principles that legalese experts rarely grasp and it neglects the people’s interests, too, not just technologists’. It helps monopolists under the assumption that their disinformation campaigns actually bear truths.
About Microsoft losing the case, Rui Seabra says that “being a patent aggressor themselves, they kind of deserve it, however… SCOTUS validating #swpat is definitely not good.” As pointed out by the other side of this debate (patent lawyer Mike Wokasch):
Prediction: Breyer’s concurrence, (w/ Alito & Scalia) re:role of courts, becomes important fodder for the anti-#swpat crowd. #patents #i4i
A FOSS respective on this case can be found in Groklaw, which calls it a “Disappointing Supreme Court decision”. This was covered by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols and Joe Brockmeier too. They explain the relevance to FOSS.
Here is the official decision [PDF] and other news coverage below. The success of Free software is hinged upon eradication of software patents because they impede dissemination. █
Microsoft loses Word patent appealMicrosoft loses U.S. Supreme Court case on patentThe new standard for justice in patent law is i4iI4i wins Microsoft Word suit in U.S. Supreme CourtMicrosoft to pay $290m court fineSupreme Court decision could have big effect on patent law Microsoft loses $290m patent case over Word toolSupreme Court Ruling Seen as a Win for Patent TrollsHow Microsoft lost 8-0 at the Supreme CourtMicrosofts failed attempt to change patent law foreverMicrosoft loses Supreme Court appeal in i4i caseSupreme Court Upholds $290 Million Patent Ruling Against MicrosoftMicrosoft Loses Supreme Court CaseMicrosoft loses $300 million Supreme Court caseMicrosoft loses Supreme Court patent appeali4i wins top court battle against MicrosoftSupreme Court Upholds $290 Million Infringement Award Against MicrosoftIn i4i Case, High Court Pitches 8-0 Shutout Against MicrosoftMicrosoft loses in Supreme Court case versus i4iSupreme Court rules Microsoft must pay $290M in patent caseMicrosoft Will Have To Pay $300 Million Patent Fine (MSFT)US top court rules against Microsoft in patent caseMicrosoft v. i4i Decided: IP Community Crisis Averted?US Supreme Court shoots down Microsoft, orders i4i payday
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