Eolas prepares to sink Microsoft

Found on The Inquirer on Thursday, 15 January 2004
Browse Software

As Eolas Technologies moved a step closer to sliding half a billion or so US dollars into its back pocket, courtesy of its so-far successful patent infringement case against Microsoft, reports emerge of company founder Michael Doyle having friendly chats with the "Linux community".

Mr Doyle is one of the named inventors on U.S. Patent, number 5,838,906, a "distributed hypermedia method for automatically invoking external application providing interaction and display of embedded objects within a hypermedia document."

EWeek reports that Doyle told them he has been: "in discussions with major players in Linux world and working on plan to resolve '906 patent issue with entire Linux community." Any solution, Doyle added, "Will be supportive of open-source community."

Once Mr Doyle has the half-a-bill firmly wedged in his back pocket, he'll do a deal to allow open sourcers to use the technology freely, we imagine. And, sticking with our imagination, it seems Doyle, conscious of his public image, wants to be seen as a Robin Hood figure, redistributing, by legal means, the massive wealth accumulated through the Sheriff of Redmond's Windows tax.

Now wouldn't that just be sweet? Looks like Microsoft needs to work more on its puplic image; perhaps then patent-holders would consider sharing instead of sueing. But then, with half a billion in my pockets, I also wouldn't care about more money and allow others to use it for free.