ZDNet UK: 3D Graphics World Shaken by Patent Claims

[ Thanks to pdajames
for this link. ]

“The body governing the widely used graphics standard OpenGL
faces tough decisions after Microsoft stakes a claim in the
technology. Users of Mac OS, Unix and Linux may have a reason to
worry.

“OpenGL, a widely used cross-platform graphics standard, may be
subject to more restrictive licensing following recent claims by
Microsoft that it owns patents to technology critical to the
specification.

“While it is as yet unclear how Microsoft intends to pursue its
claims, the matter underscores the increasing difficulty of
creating high-tech industry standards of all kinds, particularly
those that are intended to be widely available and royalty-free.
The issue is particularly relevant in Europe, which is debating
whether to make software more broadly patentable, as is the case in
the US…”

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