Re: Sharing the Family PC is Patent-Pending

[Henry E Schaffer]

In article <barmar-9E589C.17450607052004@comcast.ash.giganews.com>,
Barry Margolin  <barmar@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> ...
>In any case, a patent doesn't just cover the end result, it covers the 
>*method* used to obtain that result.  

  I've read a number of patents which claimed the end result, and then
included any method of accomplishing it giving one method as an example,
and then saying that this was only an example and that there could be
other methods.

>So unless the techniques used in Linux or MacOS render the technique
>used in Windows obvious, the patent may indeed be reasonable.   ...

  For the method, but IMHO not for the end result.  I agree that one
would have to carefully review the claims to determine whether or not
the previously-achieved end result was being claimed.
-- 
--henry schaffer
hes _AT_ ncsu _DOT_ edu