[Infowarrior] - Microsoft Patents Sudo?

[Richard Forno]

Microsoft Patents Sudo?!!  Wednesday, November 11 2009 @ 10:36 AM EST
Lordy, lordy, lordy. They have no shame. It appears that Microsoft has  
just patented sudo, a personalized version of it.
Here it is, patent number7617530. Thanks, USPTO, for giving Microsoft,  
which is already a monopoly, a monopoly on something that's been in  
use since 1980 and wasn't invented by Microsoft. Here's Wikipedia's  
description of sudo, which you can meaningfully compare to Microsoft's  
description of its "invention".

This is why what the US Supreme Court does about software patents  
means so much. Hopefully they will address the topic in their decision  
on Bilski. Sudo is an integral part of the functioning of GNU/Linux  
systems, and you use it in Mac OSX also. Maybe the Supreme Court  
doesn't know that, and maybe the USPTO didn't realize it. But do you  
believe Microsoft knows it?

Perhaps Microsoft would like everyone in the world to pay them a toll  
at least, even if they don't want to use Microsoft's software? Like  
SCO, but with more muscle behind the request? Or maybe it might be  
used as a barrier to competition? What do you personally believe  
Microsoft wants patents on things like sudo for? To make sure  
innovative new companies can compete on an even playing field with  
Microsoft?

And how do you like the final wording of the patent?

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http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20091111094923390