You know what this country needs more of? Patent trolls! This time the target is Microsoft, over its .net software. Jeremy Reimer at Ars is on the story:
The patent itself, like many software patents, uses vague language to describe “a system and method for generating computer applications in an arbitrary object framework.” The patent involves creating “objects” in a web-based application. These objects are managed throughout their life cycle in an object library and put together to create complex, interactive web applications. The whole mechanism separates design, function, and content so that each can be developed separately.
To anyone who has some knowledge of web-based software development, it sounds a lot like what Sun’s Java or Apple’s WebObjects were doing before .NET was even released. In fact, the patent even admits as such: “Prior art solutions have succeeded in partially separating some of these functions. Notably, content management databases and digital repositories provide a means of separating content from form and function.” It then defends the need for this separate patent with the incredibly vague assertion that “content management tools typically fail to address form/function issues.”
I’ve used a few content management tools in my time, and none of them have failed to separate content from function—that’s basically the entire point of content management systems. The patent goes on to claim that “changes in design or content do not require the intervention of a programmer.” Again, it’s difficult to see how this is different from any other existing solutions, many of which predate Vertical Computing’s efforts.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.
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