[ Date Index ] [ Thread Index ] [ <= Previous by date / thread ] [ Next by date / thread => ]
NEWS:
Your print manager is patented.
http://swpat.ffii.org/pikta/txt/ep/0760/140/index.html.gz#aclm
The present invention relates to the creation and ordering of printed
documents marketing brochures and other printed matter using a
personal computer or graphics workstation. More particularly, the
present invention relates to a method and system for automatically
checking the printing parameters specified by the designed document
for potential printing inconsistencies, omissions, errors and other
printing problems.
If you ever doubted that software patents are dangerous, read this one.
Amongst 29 (!) spurious claims, they assert that simply telling the user that
they have selected the wrong PAPER SIZE is patented!
You can't pop up a dialog telling the user that the file uses a font that
cannot be printed by this printer - that's patented.
you can't display a helpful error message in any form:
6. The system in claim 4, wherein the messages display instructions of
how to correct the problems identified by the computer with document
parameters stored in the electronic file.
You can't even warn the user in advance:
15 The method according to claim 14, further comprising:
displaying when a potential problem may occur in printing the designed
document.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein step (d) further
comprises:
indicating one or more print parameters that may cause a problem in
printing the designed document.
PostScript itself may be patented:
22. A tool for use in the design of a document to be printed where the
document design is specified by a plurality of printing parameters
stored in an electronic format specified by document design software
used in designing the document, comprising:
means for automatically analyzing the plurality of printing parameters
in the electronic format; and
means for determining when one or more of the analyzed printing
parameters is likely to cause a problem in printing the document.
Remember: this is NOT a hoax, this is a genuine GRANTED patent. It's not
pending, it's granted in the USA AND in Europe. All that is stopping it is
that Europe has not yet allowed software patents to be enforced.
The patent was intended to only apply to printhouses but it is phrased and was
granted on the CLAIMS and therefore could be used to extract punitive fees
wherever a print manager is installed.
Note this bit of legalese carefully:
for purposes of explanation and not
limitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular
hardware and techniques in order to provide a thorough understanding
of the present invention
In other words, the SPECIFICS of this patent are irrelevant to it's claims,
they are only provided for background. Every instance of any kind of
printer->computer printer->user error feedback is patented.
It even covers network print servers. Specific mention is made of USER level
DTP packages like Quark.
Read this warning:
While the invention has
been shown and described in what is presently believed to be the most
practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made within
the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all
equivalent systems, procedures, and configurations.
__________________________________________________
APPARENT TO THOSE OF ORDINARY SKILL
A definition of prior art??!?!?!?
Where's the technical step if it's apparent to those of ordinary skill?
The paperless office could come a whole lot faster if this were ever
enforceable. (Except it wouldn't, the paperless office is patented too.)
--
Neil Williams
=============
http://www.dcglug.org.uk/
http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/isbnsearch/
http://www.neil.williamsleesmill.me.uk/
http://www.biglumber.com/x/web?qs=0x8801094A28BCB3E3
Attachment:
pgp00016.pgp
Description: PGP signature