Microsoft Bows to Eolas, Revamps IE

Tenacious Dee writes "The patent quarrel between Microsoft and Eolas takes a strange turn with an announcement from Redmond that the Internet Explorer browser will be modified to change the way ActiveX controls are handled. A Microsoft white paper details the behavior change."

Extra click to interact with objects in pages.

[LiquidCoooled]

This solution sounds like flashblock.
I personally hope it is like that, because then content won't be doing dodgy stuff without consent.

Thank you Eolas :)

about time

[eneville]

ActiveX has been a huge problem with IE (you should know this already). I hope ActiveX is removed, rather than improved. It would reduce people's dependancy on the browser, perhaps then authors will consider cross platforms, or rather, the forced to do things that are cross platform.

What this means for other browsers

[drgroove]

Microsoft is doing this for a strategic reason - other browser vendors cannot hope to pay the patent licensing fees that Eolas will charge them. Additionally, it will be difficult for other browser vendors to change their software as quickly - remember, MS had a prototype version of an "Eolas compliant" browser at least last year.

Interesting move.

Re:Or...

[BishopSRQ]

>>> They could perhaps just remove ActiveX entirely, insecure as it has proven to be. Yes, it's called .NET. This conversation makes me forget which year it is...it's 2001, right?

The Patent Office getting sued too?

[Lolaine]

Has anybody noticed that for seeing the patent's application images [uspto.gov] you have to use a plugin? Will be the patent office get sued too? Curious ...

Re:Uninformative blurb

[LainTouko]

Wouldn't browsers like Opera and KHTML be safe due to not being based in America?

Re:Better security

[Geoffreyerffoeg]

You know what would be even better for Microsoft in this case? Implement X11 "focus-follows-mouse" within the browser client area. Then you avoid the extra click, but you're not using whatever mouse-click-passing problem Eolas is complaining about. Same result to end users, different coding, no patent problem.

And yes, focus-follows-mouse is acceptable. First, it originated in X, whose developers would never patent it (and no one else can), and second, Windows has been supporting it since Win95 or so, enabled either by a registry change or by a TweakUI checkbox.

Hmm...If that doesn't work, what about giving all embedded objects the focus, and using the Eolas method to transfer focus to the browser (e.g., when you click on a link)? Since the browser isn't a plugin, they can't complain...

Re:then don't spurn microsoft for patents,

[h4rm0ny]

if I patent software and publically license it as beerware ad infinitium, do you chastise me for patenting?

I'd say your heart was in the right place, but I don't believe that allowing the patenting of software or mathematical algorithms is in the best interests of mankind, a nation, or even in the long-run, to the benefit of individuals. Do not confuse copyright - this is how I did it - with patents - only I am allowed to achieve something. At least that is what they mean when we're talking about software. So I'm afraid, yes - I would disapprove of even your generous use of the patent system, because by joining the system, you strengthen it, whatever you intentions. Fighting over territory doesn't return it to the commons.

I believe there would be a way out for you, in that you could simply publicly disclose your ideas. No need to join the patent system, but you've still enriched humanity.

Re:Or... What's at stake for the industry

[killjoe]

That's a strange post. Sometimes vile weapons are used against vile people. I think an intelligent person can see shades of grey and see the good that comes out of use of patents sometimes.

IN this case if it hurts MS then it's good, if it makes it harder to hack IE then that's even better.

Re:Get out of that cave on mars

[colin_s_guthrie]

So if The Reg is correct, why is MS changing IE? If the patent is nullified, then it's nullified for everyone - MS included..... Perhaps it was unnullified?

Re:Or... What's at stake for the industry

[h4rm0ny]

You make a good point. Breaking up the market place into a larger number of providers would seem to bring benefits to us (everyone). That's not happened here, though. As far as I am aware Eolas does not produce a web browser, so we simply get a impaired version of what's already out there and nothing in return.

I have no wish to take away from your satisfaction in seeing Microsoft get beaten at their own game, though. Enjoy. ;)