In-depth analysis of Microsoft content syndication platform patent application

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A bit of a debate is developing regarding Microsoft's recent patent for
(and here's where the editorializing starts) "RSS". It's only a slightly
interesting question which is why I won't pursue it, save to say that
patents are very technical and narrow so it's easy to jump to the wrong
conclusion about them when reading them only superficially.

At any rate if there's any beef to be had, IMHO, it's with the Patent Law and
the Patent Office, not with Microsoft.

Check out this
post from Niall
Kennedy's Weblog: In-depth analysis of Microsoft content syndication
platform patent application:

On June 21, 2005 eight Microsoft employees claimed invention rights
for a "content syndication platform," exemplified by Internet Explorer
7 and its support for aggregating feed content. Patent application
20060288329 pursues the "the right to exclude others from making,
using, offering for sale, or selling" (see United States definition of
a patent) normalized web feeds made available via an API and centrally
stored feed lists. The patent application was revealed yesterday after
an 18-month privacy window expired.

(from: In-depth
analysis of Microsoft content syndication platform patent application)