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Microsoft Seeks Patent On Virtual Desktop Pager

Posted by timothy on from the enlightenment-anyone dept.

ihabawad writes "Microsoft has a patent on file for this really cool new technology called 'virtual desktops' where you see a 'pager' on the screen. Read all about it by searching under "Published Applications" for patent #20030189597 at the US Patent and Trademark Office. You know, I had a dream that I was using such a thing once; what was it called? -- yes, FvwmPager! Weird, eh?"

4 of 716 comments (clear)

  1. GNOME/KDE Ripoff? by Leoric · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was looking through the patent application pdf at (http://www.dagsavisen.no/innenriks/apor/2003/06/7 39300.shtml)
    On page2. Isnt that a gnome and KDE screendump? You can clearly see the foot and the KDE logo in the right bottom corner.
    How is it possible to file a patent on someone elses technology, and use a picture of their product to describe it?

  2. There is a difference... by cheide · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The way it's described in the patent, the 'preview' of all of the desktops is hidden until the user specifically triggers it, whereas all the other virtual desktops I'm familiar with have an omnipresent preview on your current desktop.

    Of course, this is exactly the kind of trivial difference that disqualifies it from being 'new and non-obvious', so it still deserves to get laughed out of the Patent Office...

  3. Re:You may want to mention that by Halo1 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Perhaps their latest rash of applications are more defensive than offensive.
    If that were the case, then why are they lobbying so heavily in favour of software patents in Europe? They even went as far as going to individual MEPs and asking them what they wanted (things like free licenses for schools in their constituency etc) in return for supporting the swpat directive. They also went to governments (together with national member organisations from EICTA), urging them to support the swpat directive, because excluding software from patentability would somehow be very bad for our economy.
    --
    Donate free food here
  4. Patent Abuse = Slander of Title? by wonkavader · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A. Microsoft costs the patent office time on this, and that's our money.

    B. They cost us, as a community, time.

    C. They're gambling on getting it through under radar, and if that happens it'll cost lots of folks money to fight it.

    So there's a monetary component to this.

    Meanwhile, Microsoft KNOWS they don't have actual title to this, and are submitting it in effort to take title to this idea FRAUDULENTLY, as they KNOW they don't have title.

    That sounds to me like slander of title, and is ACTIONABLE, correct?

    And while it's hard to figure out who needs to do the actual suing, damages to the community could be set as a fraction of legal fees expected as an average of Microsoft's expenditures on patent actions.

    And it would put the fear of God into some of these slanderers of title we've been talking about for the past year(s).