Summary
So Microsoft has applied for a new patent on the IS NOT operator in Visual Basic. I hope it is accepted, so I can openly and flagrantly violate the patent in my language, Heron.
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It is hard for me to put into words the sheer absurdity of patents on algorithms. It both infuriates and amuses me. I think the best thing to do is to not give in to the fear that companies attempt to instill in us through abuse of the legal system. The only way to fight tyranny is to challenge it.
To this end, I plan on incorporating the IS NOT operator into Heron if Microsoft succeeds in patenting it. Let them come after me. Mind you they might have trouble dragging me across the border ;-)
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Patenting algorithms, syntactic constructs or non-tangible things such as ways of performing actions or doing business is absurd. Personally I hope that few attempts like these will succeed. Although in my limited ability to parse legalese wording from the application, I would suspect that patent would be applicable to only BASIC derivate languages. How would you violate it with Heron?
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