There have been previous threats about Theora, but nothing happened. This could be FUD bluff too.

One interesting difference here is that they're going up against someone with deep pockets. If they can't find something substantive, MPEG-LA is risking a "slander of title" claim, and Google might consider making an example of them.

It was Bill Atkinson that invented the Region structure. Wozniak was not involved with the development of the Lisa.

The actual story is here

However, assuming someone decodes the format and meaning of the control data produced by conversion of the image, that data is not covered by copyright, let alone Microsoft's, and therefore not a protected work, and thus not covered by the DMCA. The code that does the conversion is protected, but not the data it inputs and outputs.

From the DMCA:

(2) No person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof, that— A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title; M

How is an image taken by this device a "protected work"? Is MS claiming to own the copyright on the images captured with this device?

This is just the opening shot in the upcoming battle between cable providers that want you to use *their* on-demand movie systems vs Netflix and similar companies. It's not surprising it happened with Rogers first, but this will inevitably happen in the US too. Netflix's streaming of movies is the residential ISP's worst nightmare come true. They'll be in a position where they have to tell their customers that something they used to be able to do for no additional cost will suddenly become a new confusing expense showing up on their cable bill with no apparent additional benefit to the customer.

I just bought a MacBook Pro last week - not only do they offer a matte display, but it also has a higher pixel resolution (1680x1050) than the glossy one on the same model.

... and what are their names and addresses?

One thing people overlook if HTML5 replaces Flash is how one would go about blocking annoying content. Right now, you can use a variety of methods to block the Flash plugin, even being able to reenable it for certain useful purposes. What happens when the annoying content is embedded in the basic HTML of the webpage, and there's *no way* to stop it?

up 0.07$, not up *from* 0.07$

Yep, if history is any guide, this is just a negotiating ploy by Sony to get better OEM pricing for Windows or marketing dollars from Microsoft. This will follow the usual playbook - deal is reached, then Sony will claim they were just "studying the idea" and the results will show that users overwhelmingly prefer IE and how great a partner Microsoft is.

Since there's now a patent, these other companies would have to pay for a license in order to use this method to spy on their employees.