April 27th, 2009
OIN spearheads review of Microsoft FAT patents
The Open Invention Network is making good on its pledge to try to overturn the Linux-related patents that were contained in Microsoft’s recently settled litigation against TomTomNV.
OIN announced today that three patents in the lawsuit — including those the deal with the creation of long and short file names — have been named for prior art review on the Post-Issue Peer-to-Patent website linked to the Linux Defenders portal. The Peer-to-Patent is an initiative by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that opens the patent examination process to public participation, according to Linux Defenders.
The case was filed in late February and settled in late March.
“We’re not targeting any one company but [trying ]to clear the way [to patent reform],” said Keith Bergelt, CEO of OIN, which is co-sponsored by the Linux Foundation. “We’re looking for poor quality patents as long as they bear relevance to the Linux community.”
Bergelt said there is much prior art related to the process of creating long and short file names. “That process has been instant in products that predate the filing of those [Microsoft FAT) patents," he said, adding that this effort -- and other prior art reviews sponsored by OIN, are aimed at a larger cause. "This is part of the marketing based patent reform. The [Linux]community has a big responsibility in this.”
OIN has also sponsored a review of the patents cited in IP Innovation’s litigation against Linux giants Red Hat and Novell. That case has not been settled.
Paula Rooney is a Boston-based writer who has followed the tech industry for almost two decades. See her full profile and disclosure of her industry affiliations.
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