Microsoft again sues "alien" ActiveX
The long-forgotten conflict between Microsoft and Eolas Technology, during which Internet Explorer could lose ActiveX support, flares up with renewed vigor, Techdirt reports. Having lost in court (the Eolas patent was recognized as valid), Microsoft said after some time that it was the first to invent the technologies described in the patent.
Since in the United States, unlike many other countries, the one who first invented the technology is right, and not the one who first registered it, Microsoft has a chance of success. However, for this, she will have to provide evidence that the technology was actually developed earlier than that of Eolas. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for July 9th.
Recall that the first lawsuit between Microsoft and Eolas Technology took place in 2003. U.S. Patent Number 5,838,906, issued in 1998, owned by Eolas and the University of California, describes an Internet browser system that supports small programs that integrate into online documents. In the case of Internet Explorer, such programs are plugins, Java applets, scripting languages, and ActiveX controls.
Microsoft refused to pay royalties in the amount of $ 521 million and filed an appeal, but in January 2004 the court again issued a similar decision, obliging the company to remove the controversial code in the next version of the browser. As a result, the code disappeared in the beta version of the browser, causing horror for developers and advertisers, but everything remained unchanged in the final version.
Since in the United States, unlike many other countries, the one who first invented the technology is right, and not the one who first registered it, Microsoft has a chance of success. However, for this, she will have to provide evidence that the technology was actually developed earlier than that of Eolas. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for July 9th.
Recall that the first lawsuit between Microsoft and Eolas Technology took place in 2003. U.S. Patent Number 5,838,906, issued in 1998, owned by Eolas and the University of California, describes an Internet browser system that supports small programs that integrate into online documents. In the case of Internet Explorer, such programs are plugins, Java applets, scripting languages, and ActiveX controls.
Microsoft refused to pay royalties in the amount of $ 521 million and filed an appeal, but in January 2004 the court again issued a similar decision, obliging the company to remove the controversial code in the next version of the browser. As a result, the code disappeared in the beta version of the browser, causing horror for developers and advertisers, but everything remained unchanged in the final version.