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Apple Patented by Microsoft

Posted by pudge on from the i-am-switching-to-pears dept.

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 ...

8 of 336 comments (clear)

  1. Wanna cyber? by FosterKanig · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I've got my robe and wizard hat.

  2. Christ this is old. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Do you guys have anything better to do than rehash news.com articles?

    If they put a comments section at the ends of their articles it would put /. out of business.

  3. Watch out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    When that tree crashes, you get more than a blue screen of death.

  4. Using linux is stealing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    When you use linux, you participate in a communist scheme designed to prevent software professionals from being compensated for their work. So switch back to windows xp you scumbags.

  5. Re:It isn't even april.... by gumbi+west · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    FYI, if you want to find where posts like this are from (i.e. who wrote it) you can google large chunks of text in quotes.

    i.e. google "most contentious aspects of the text which stated that farmers" (with the quotes) and you will see that this was lifted from here This article is so long that sections may have been lifted from various places... to find them, just use google...

  6. And for those of you that don't know by GoClick · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I meditate to regain my mana, before casting Lvl. 8 chicken of the Infinite.

    Not that anyone ever reads -1 posts but C'mone

    http://bash.org/?104383

    bloodninja: Baby, I been havin a tough night so treat me nice aight?
    BritneySpears14: Aight.
    bloodninja: Slip out of those pants baby, yeah.
    BritneySpears14: I slip out of my pants, just for you, bloodninja.
    bloodninja: Oh yeah, aight. Aight, I put on my robe and wizard hat.
    BritneySpears14: Oh, I like to play dress up.
    bloodninja: Me too baby.
    BritneySpears14: I kiss you softly on your chest.
    bloodninja: I cast Lvl. 3 Eroticism. You turn into a real beautiful woman.
    BritneySpears14: Hey...
    bloodninja: I meditate to regain my mana, before casting Lvl. 8 chicken of the Infinite.
    BritneySpears14: Funny I still don't see it.
    bloodninja: I spend my mana reserves to cast Mighty F*ck of the Beyondness.
    BritneySpears14: You are the worst cyber partner ever. This is ridiculous.
    bloodninja: Don't f*ck with me bitch, I'm the mightiest sorcerer of the lands.
    bloodninja: I steal yo soul and cast Lightning Lvl. 1,000,000 Your body explodes into a fine bloody mist, because you are only a Lvl. 2 Druid.
    BritneySpears14: Don't ever message me again you piece of ****.
    bloodninja: Robots are trying to drill my brain but my lightning shield inflicts DOA attack, leaving the robots as flaming piles of metal.
    bloodninja: King Arthur congratulates me for destroying Dr. Robotnik's evil army of Robot Socialist Republics. The cold war ends. Reagan steals my accomplishments and makes like it was cause of him.
    bloodninja: You still there baby? I think it's getting hard now.
    bloodninja: Baby?
    --------------
    BritneySpears14: Ok, are you ready?
    eminemBNJA: Aight, yeah I'm ready.
    BritneySpears14: I like your music Em... Tee hee.
    eminemBNJA: huh huh, yeah, I make it for the ladies.
    BritneySpears14: Mmm, we like it a lot. Let me show you.
    BritneySpears14: I take off your pants, slowly, and massage your muscular physique.
    eminemBNJA: Oh I like that Baby. I put on my robe and wizard hat.
    BritneySpears14: What the f*ck, I told you not to message me again.
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    eminemBNJA: damn I gotta write down your names or something

  7. I can believe it - look what isn't mine by MerlynEmrys67 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    This isn't mine

    So this is a patent filling, right from the USPTO - it isn't mine, e-mailed the law firm, no response. I am assuming sometime before it issues, but who knows. I would rather believe that the government screwed up rather than Microsoft is busy buying up patents on apple trees

    --
    I have mod points and I am not afraid to use them
  8. Re:Coming really soon... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Has your IQ ensured that your tinfoil hat is made from real tin?