Full Disclosure: Re: RIP: ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer?

[igenge2 () csc com au]

Richard M. Smith wrote:

> A small company called Eolas recently won a $521 million
> judgment against Microsoft for patent infringement.  The Eolas patent
> covers plugins in Web pages to show multimedia content.
>
> The $521 million payment covers past infringement.  Because Bill Gates
> loathes to pay per-copy royalties, it looks like Microsoft is going to
> either partially or completely remove support for ActiveX controls in
> Internet Explorer rather than pay Eolas any more money.
Random prediction, pure speculation and my opinion only (nothing to do 
with my company):

Microsoft buys Eolas or the patent rights and refuses to licence the 
patent to other browser developers thus ensuring that IE is the only 
browser with active content.  As a local car ad says, "Game over!"  Let's 
hope I'm wrong.


IG

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