In a blog
posting, the firm warned that the ActiveX-related patch could
disrupt existing uses of the technology and advised developers to
test the updates on their systems. The patch has already been made
available for download for this purpose, but the forthcoming April
update will install the patch on all remaining systems.
Microsoft has included a compatibility feature in the update
that will allow developers to switch off the ActiveX related
changes for a maximum of two months, allowing them a brief
opportunity to address any compatibility issues.
The update is the result of a dispute with the University of
California and tiny tech firm Eolas Technologies, both of whom sued
Microsoft for patent infringement in 1999. In 2003, a jury agreed
with the claim and awarded damages of $520.6 million plus
interest.
Microsoft appealed and, in March 2005, won a retrial. The case
has been sent back to the District Court, where Microsoft
effectively has to show that the Eolas patent is invalid because
the technology behind the patent was already in the public
domain.
Its case will be made more difficult after the US Patent and
Trademarks Office ruled in September 2005 that the Eolas patent was
valid.
