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Robert Ramey wrote:

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I just came upon an incredible thing.

It seems that microsoft has filed a U.S. Patent Application for XML serialization. I'm sort of dumbfounded at this. Truth be told I've seen a lot of even more ridiculous patents but somehow this strikes closer to home. I'm really at a loss to appreciate the ramifcations of

Jonathan Turkanis wrote: this

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- if any.

It's hard to take it seriously ;-) <quote> [0019] The serialized data of an object may be thought of as a "dehydrated object" where all of the water (object functions in this metaphor) has been squeezed out of the object. This leaves only dry potato flakes (the data). Later, a hungry person wishes to have mashed potatoes (the object with the data), the potato flakes may be rehydrated. To "add water" to a dehydrated object, an empty object is created and the stored data is inserted therein. </quote> Especially as you go down the patent and read the silliness and contextual incoherence ( ;-) ) of the ever broadening clauses. Just highlights the failing of the patent system rather than having any consequence for boost I'd think. Matt. matthurd@acm.org IMPORTANT: The information contained in this email and/or its attachments is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by reply and immediately delete this message and all its attachments. Any review, use, reproduction, disclosure or dissemination of this message or any attachment by an unintended recipient is strictly prohibited. Neither this message nor any attachment is intended as or should be construed as an offer, solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument. Neither the sender, his or her employer nor any of their respective affiliates makes any warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of any of the information contained herein or that this message or any of its attachments is free of viruses.