Re: a what if...

I think you should read the Markman on this subject to
have a clear definition of the scope of the patent.  I
do not see a distinction on whether the code is an
internal thread or an external process.

--- Jake Robb <jakerobb@mac.com> wrote:
> 
> Um, I'm pretty sure that "extensions" are the same
> as "plugins".  Code in a
> different file, loaded at runtime, and run at the
> request of a hypermedia
> document.  Covered by the patent, I think.
> 
> The suggestion, I believe, was to actually inline
> Flash, QuickTime, Java,
> and any other major plugins right into the browser's
> code.  Then the code
> isn't external, and so it's not covered under the
> patent.
> 
> -Jake
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Aral Balkan wrote:
> 
> > 
> >> What if Microsoft's change to IE is to actually
> patch commonly used
> >> plugins directly into the browser's binary? 
> Would this circumvent the
> >> patent by eliminating the call to an external
> executable?
> > 
> > Very cool: Sounds like an "extension" to me,
> instead of a plug-in.
> > 
> >> If so, other browsers would have to follow suit
> if they were persued.
> >> It would certainly put the kibosh on new plugin
> creation, but give them
> >> a better negotiating position.
> > 
> > Hmm, not if the browser was built with an
> extendable/open framework. It
> > could then be recompiled with a new extension
> built using that framework and
> > abiding by the open API.
> > 
> > Ok, building on this, since XHTML is XML, why not
> expose these patched
> > "extensions" (have they patented extensions?) via
> a new tag
> > 
> > eg. <extension name="Flash"><!-- custom tags?
> --></extension>
> > 
> > or, the extension could even add its own tag
> definitions:
> > 
> > eg. <flash version="7.0" flashvars="a=5&b=4"><!--
> child tags? --></flash>
> > 
> > Thoughts?
> > 
> > Aral
> > 
> > --
> > Aral Balkan
> > Managing Director, Bits And Pixels, Ltd.
> > http://www.BitsAndPixels.co.uk
> > Director of Educational Content, Ultrashock.com
> > Co-author, Flash 3D Cheats, (FoED)
> > Co-author, Flash MX Most Wanted Components (FoED)
> > Co-director, London Macromedia User Group
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system
> (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.515 / Virus Database: 313 - Release
> Date: 01/09/2003
> > 
> 


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Received on Friday, 5 September 2003 10:20:14 UTC