[sudo-workers] Microsoft patent 6,775,781 and sudo

[TRUCKS, JESSE (SBCSI)]

I thought that was the case. The patent is vague enough to be applicable
to sudo, but if they pressed that issue, then prior art would nullify
their patent rights completely. I doubt they would press it because of
that - though I certainly hope that they would if it weren't for legal
fees on this side of things :(

--
Jesse Trucks                   jt9873 at sbc.com
GCUX - Certified UNIX Security Administrator
Systems Analyst             vox: 608.252.2395
SBC Services, Inc.          pgr: 608.550.8649



-----Original Message-----
From: Todd C. Miller [mailto:Todd.Miller at courtesan.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:36 AM
To: TRUCKS, JESSE (SBCSI)
Cc: sudo-workers at sudo.ws
Subject: Re: [sudo-workers] Microsoft patent 6,775,781 and sudo


In message
<22D4925F15E12E489876C14EC78D66B601D2894E at ilnort1msgusr08.itservices
.sbc.com>
	so spake "TRUCKS, JESSE \(SBCSI\)" (jt9873):

> IANAL, but doesn't prior art cover sudo and void this patent outside the
> context of Windows or completely void it?

After a more thorough reading of the patent I don't believe it
covers Sudo, though if MicroSoft tried to claim that it did we have
20 years of prior art ;-)

 - todd