Microsoft Wants to Distribute Software Socially and Virally

[Guest]

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office just published a patent application by Microsoft that may raise some eyebrows. "Like" an application, "recommend it" to a friend and you are in patent territory.

Microsoft Wants to Distribute Software Socially and Virally : Read more

 

[spentshells]

LOL Virally I really thought they were already doing that.

 

[dameon51]

I guess I no longer "like" MS.

 

[coolestcarl]

Thank you congress for changing the established (and fairer) first to invent patent system to the first to file *sarcasm*.

So if you ever invent something and do not have the money to patent it oh well Sucks for U! Gone are the days when an independent inventor can truly be rewarded for his/her work. Now corporations are going to have a mad rush of patent filing of everything they possibly can.

Thank you elected representatives for screwing the common man.

 

[zaznet]

We used to call this Shareware...

 

[back_by_demand]

OK to patent this may be stupid, but the idea is not

 

[halcyon]

Microsoft...you're really beginning to worry me.

 

[alxianthelast]

And here I was asking how they were going to deal with licensing and payments..

 

[jhansonxi]

IT security professionals call this "phishing". Even if malware authors don't already have prior art, they will be certain to take advantage of it.

 

[freggo]

Patenting 'work of mouth'.Good one.

Besides, if anyone can have/should have a patent on 'like' wouldn't that be Facebook?
Didn't they come up withthe 'like' buzz word?

Than again, 'recommend this site' has been around since the 2nd website was ever made and is the same as a 'like' under a different name.

How about giving a 'thumbs up'...isn't that a 'like' in disguise ?

 

[Parsian]

Welcome to the century of patent douchebaggery and diminishing freedom.

 

[Flameout]

the ability to patent such a basic concept is ridiculous