As a result of a patent ruling, Microsoft is changing the way IE6 deals with ActiveX controls, like those for Quicktime, Flash, and Shockwave. By default, the changed versions of IE 6 will force users to click a prompt for each piece of embeded content. (UPDATE: As of January 30, 2004 it is possible that the patent office will end this issue by cancelling the patent.)

There are workarounds presented in the following pages that will allow site developers to change their sites to create a seamless experience for their visitors:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/ieupdate/activexchanges.asp

http://developer.apple.com/internet/ieembedprep.html



To learn more about the story, you can read the background here:
http://news.com.com/2100-1012_3-5087787.html

EDIT: Additional Note
A great collection of the workarounds and the downsides of using various approaches can be found here:
http://www.sidesh0w.com/weblog/2003/10/06/the_eolas_matter.html

The thing that comes to mind in XOOPS are the flash banner ads. Any other pieces people are worried about?

Do people think this needs to be addressed in the core, as a hack, or simply in modules that deal with embeded content?

Perhaps we should add an object handler for this that can be used for all the relevant embedded files to the core. That would make it easier for module developers to add embedded content to their modules.

Herko

Latest update: The patent office may expire the Eolas patent.
That would make this a non-issue.
Still developing...

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=4244611§ion=news