I don't know how I haven't heard about this until today, but I thought it might be interesting to others. Will this will be a huge blow to web game developers?

What does Eolas v. Microsoft mean to you? (http://builder.com.com/5100-6373-5083455.html)

Hahahahaha. Patents. :)

Originally posted by Karukef
Hahahahaha. Patents. :)

The process for typing Hahahahaha with 10 letters a large H and trailing alternating little a's and h's has been patented by Twilight Games. The current fee is 25 cents per message posted. Please remit the fee or you'll be hearing from our lawyers.

I hadn't heard about it either, but then again I'm always a few months late on any news it seems.

As I understand it, the act of opeing a java applet or shockwave/flash file directly using the a href tag (either in the current window or as a seaprate window) doesn't fall under the rules of the patent. So I doubt it would be a significant blow to most webgame developers.

The patent "specifically" refers to (that is, if it specifically states anything.. it's pretty vague) the referencing of non-embedded content within the active HTML page. It very nearly includes all image linking (jpg/gif), but I suppose they determined that jpg's don't qualify as "multimedia" or something. But yea, it all has to do with loading external stuff within an HTML page. If you link directly to .java files or .swf files (like most online games do already anyways), then you're perfectly legit in regard to this "patent".

The articles mention the object and embed tags specifically. These tags are used alot for embedded flash (almost any toon site, all those fancified logo or menu screens, etc), any ActiveX stuff (yikes), embedded java, and alot of streaming video sites (ie, porn chat sites). It might also affect ad agencies and some of their fancier embedded/overlayed ads (ones not using DHTML).

Everything else is safe though.... for now. :)

http://www.pvponline.com/archive.php3?archive=20040111

'Bout sums it up...

Anthony