RE: [Sheflug] Microsoft patent

[(Ted Harding) <nospam [at] nessie.mcc.ac.uk>]

On 18-May-00 Dr A V Le Blanc wrote:
> I see in the Debian news lists that Microsoft have patented
> the idea of updating software over the internet using
> a package management system; this appears to conflict with
> Debian's dpkg as well as Red Hat's rpm system, so it affects
> all Linux distributions except perhaps Slackware.  The patent
> request was filed Nov 14 1997, which is after both of these
> systems were in use, but it would be a pity if Linux groups
> had a legal wrangle with Microsoft at this stage of the game.

Does anyone know the US Patent Number of this?

And, while I'm at it, would anyone like to collaborate in putting
the following under GPL:

1. The idea of moving people from place to place using a readily
   available fleet of vehicles of various kinds where each person
   pays a modest sum for the journey upon entering the vehicle,
   referred to as a Public Transport System.

2. The idea of sustaining the metabolism of the human body by
   drawing oxygen-bearing gas into the body by means of a
   partial vaccuum system, the said gas being freely available,
   referred to as Breathing.

3. ...

Ted.

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E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding [at] nessie.mcc.ac.uk>
Date: 18-May-00                                       Time: 09:54:16
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