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Microsoft Nailed by Software Patent
An anonymous reader writes "It was just announced that Microsoft lost the case where it was accused of violating Eolas' patent on embedded applications in the Internet Explorer browser. They have been fined $521 million in damages."
Thats all? that is a nice chunk of change but why not go for something with a B in it when going up a agains a giant such as MS who is worth several Billion.
My name is Gunther Wheeler and I sell automobiles. This company called "pimpidest" began taking in my brand of cars from customers without my knowledge and installing pimp carpetting. Later they got this idea patented. We thought "hey, it's our car, we can do whatever we want with it" - so we began putting in our own pimp carpetting. Someone figured we aren't allowed to do anything with our own cars since it was already pattented, so we got fined $64 Billion.
true story.
So M$ *does* get sued ;-)
Nandz.
My name is Gunther Wheeler and I sell automobiles. This company called "pimpidest" began taking in my brand of cars from customers without my knowledge and installing pimp carpetting. Later they got this idea patented. We thought "hey, it's our car, we can do whatever we want with it" - so we began putting in our own pimp carpetting. Someone figured we aren't allowed to do anything with our own cars since it was already pattented, so we got fined $64 Billion.
true story.
I wouldn't worry about open-source software that infringes this patent. Open-source software doesn't make any money, so there's little incentive for the patent holder to sue any OSS individuals or companies. And in this case, it seems like Eolas is just out to "get Microsoft."
"Note: grousing about rejected submissions is Offtopic and usually gets moderated that way. It happens, don't take it personally."