Apple Patented by Microsoft

An anonymous reader writes "C|net is reporting that Microsoft received a patent on Tuesday for a new variety of apple tree. U.S. Plant Patent 14,757, granted to Robert Burchinal of East Wenatchee, Wash., and assigned to Microsoft, covers a new type of tree discovered in the early 1990s in the Wenatchee area, a major commercial apple-growing region. Dubbed the 'Burchinal Red Delicious,' the tree is notable for producing fruit that achieves a deep red color significantly earlier than other varieties. It is sold commercially as the 'Adams Apple.'" Apparently, the assignation of the patent to Microsoft was an error. Or so they would have us believe ...

Comments

Read the article...

[erick99]

Read the article folks, it was a mistake.

A Microsoft representative confirmed that the assigning of the patent to the company was a mistake..

The article does go on to discuss the huge inventory of legitimate tech patents that Microsoft has and how they plan to license more of same.

But the software giant has been a prolific patent generator in other areas. The company embarked on a campaign late last year to generate more revenue from its patent portfolio, offering to license widely used inventions such as its ClearType font technology and FAT storage format.

I think that the writer thought "Microsoft patenting Apple" was a humorous intro to Microsofts rather deep pile of patents.

Happy Trails!

Erick