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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Microsoft Surface: really fun and really infringing

I love the new Microsoft Surface. It is a computer that looks like a table which allows for multiple users to compute using their hands instead of a mouse. The Surface downloads pictures from cameras, uploads maps to get places and even lets you pay your bar tab without getting off your seat.

For example, to take pictures from your camera and put them on a PDA, simply place your camera down on the surface and your pictures will instantly spill out onto the screen as if you dropped a deck of cards (maybe that expression only works here in Las Vegas). After placing another wireless device down on the surface, you can then drag a picture with your finger over to the other device which will instantly download the picture. You can share pictures, music, and pretty much anything else on your electronic device.

It is against the law to create technology and then encourage people to share copyrighted material. Microsoft arguably did that under the flag of its "Zune Technology" but it has since changed its website because its lawyers were probably jumping out of windows. Microsoft Corporation will encounter some Copyright issues because of how they marketed the Surface on their website, but they are a huge corporation and can buy their way out of lawsuits.

I recently wrote a paper speaking to a few copyright issues that Microsoft may encounter as a result of this new technology. Please contact me if you would like to see the finished paper which cites the references and all of that.

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