Archive for December, 2008
Cygnus Systems Sues Microsoft, Google, Apple
Just when we started seeing the light at the end of the dark tunnel known as SCO vs. Novell, Cyngus Systems, Inc. seems hellbent to enforce a newly granted patent against three of the computer industry’s biggest corporations.
From an article posted at Mac World by Robert McMillan:
A small Indiana company has sued tech heavyweights Microsoft, Apple, and Google, claiming that it holds the patent on a common file preview feature used by browsers and operating systems to show users small snapshots of the files before they are opened.
Cygnus Systems sued the three companies on Wednesday saying that they infringed on its patent with products such as Windows Vista, Internet Explorer 8 and Google Chrome, which allow users to view preview images of documents on the computer. Mac OS X, the iPhone and Safari also infringe, the company said in court filings. Apple uses this technology in its Finder and Cover Flow Mac OS X features, the filings state.
A quick look at Cygnus Systems’ website shows at least a strong relationship with one of those named defendants:
I guess I don’t quite understand the politics behind it, but suing a vendor which you’ve been named a partner of and for which a large part of your business is based on doesn’t sound very logical. Given the nature of the patent which the lawsuit is based on, other companies could be considered future defendants.
A more in-depth article now exists at Ars Technica.
Vietnam Imposes Rules For Bloggers
According to an article by the Associated Press published at International Business Times:
Vietnam has approved new regulations banning bloggers from discussing subjects the government deems sensitive or inappropriate and requiring them to limit their writings to personal issues.
The rules ban any posts that undermine national security, incite violence or crime, disclose state secrets, or include inaccurate information that could damage the reputation of individuals and organizations, according to a copy of the regulations obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
Isn’t the banishment of a free press a personal issue to every Vietnamese citizen?
