End-users assess potential risks in Office 2003 with new guide

A guide to 'Assessing Potential Risks Posed by Patents Pending was released by software inventor Eric Wilson today, highlighting concerns about Microsofts new product and continuing conduct. The document outlines why a clash of business models makes end-user involvement in a dispute inevitable, if patents pending are granted and using Office 2003 is found to infringe. It also shows why law-abiding resellers are under obligation to make proper disclosure to end-users -- even if Microsoft refuses to do so.

(PRWEB)20 November 2003--A guide to help end-users assess the potential risks of using Office 2003, has been released by software inventor and IT journalist, Eric Wilson. The 3000-word 'Assessing Potential Risks Posed by Patents Pending, available at http://invention.docblaster.com, highlights concerns about Microsofts new product and continuing conduct. The guide details potential risks for the new version's (Word and Outlook) end-users and resellers, of additional royalties being retrospectively applied or the future imposition of new terms and conditions.

Microsoft often say they respect other peoples intellectual property rights", Mr. Wilson says, but sometimes they dont seem to recognize them until exhausting all avenues of appeal. But this guide shows why earlier recognition, even of patents-pending, is a mandatory requirement for creating trustworthy products. Otherwise, end-users should be immediately notified of any potential risks."

The document outlines why a clash of business models makes end-user involvement in this dispute inevitable, if patents pending are granted and using Office 2003 is found to infringe. It also provides a quick basis of comparison, showing how end-users can judge for themselves if any potential risk might cause them future liability.

We have taken a page from Microsofts own help file, matching it up side-by-side with one of our pending claims," Mr. Wilson says. And we also show, how with our patents still pending, we can now make additional broad or highly targeted new claims, to reinforce our position, which Microsoft cannot have already considered."

The guide demonstrates why existing claims are likely to be granted; And in this event, if end-users even 'innocently infringe, they could be forced to change software horses mid-stream.

Bill Gates drew a line in the sand just prior to the Office 2003 launch, when he started backing away from subscription software," Mr. Wilson says, and further explains in the guide. "From that moment on, this became a battle of business models."

'Assessing Potential Risks Posed by Patents Pending also shows why law-abiding Office 2003 resellers are under obligation to make proper disclosure to end-users -- even if Microsoft refuses to do so. Additionally, it outlines methods by which small inventors can successfully enforce their rights over manufacturers, resellers and users, once a patent is granted.

* Microsoft was made aware of patents-pending and plans for new low-cost, Office-compatible subscription-based features in December 2001.

For background press releases and supporting video, screenshots, pictures and other material, go to http://invention.docblaster.com

About the inventor and the invention

Eric Wilson is a software inventor and newspaper columnist. In 1999, he started research on 'Document Display System and Method. A provisional patent for this and an associated software invention, was obtained with the assistance of an Australian government grant. Document Display System and Method automatically reformats content to fit the end users screen and viewing distance, no matter how large or small these may be. The system not only allows for easier reading, but is especially useful when securely accessing document images remotely via the Internet.

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For further information contact:

Eric Wilson

Software Inventor and IT Journalist

Cell phone: +61 (0) 429 200 001

Email: ecw@compuserve.com

Website: http://invention.docblaster.com

Or Eric Wilsons patent attorney:

Mark Horsburgh

Fisher Adams Kelly

Phone: +61 7 3229 2655

Fax: +61 7 3221 0597

Email: mhorsburgh@fak.com.au

Website: www.fak.com.au

For independent legal comment:

Concerning IP law and competition policy contact:

Jill McKeough

Professor and former Head of School,

Faculty of Law,

University of New South Wales

Email: j.mckeough@unsw.edu.au

Website: http://www.bakercyberlawcentre.org/Research_Associates.htm#Jill McKeough