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Microsoft Patents Grouped Taskbar Buttons

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the thought-of-that-before dept.

I_am_Rambi writes "According to the US Patent office, patent #6,756,999 belongs to Microsoft. The patent this time is grouping taskbar icons processes. This is included in Windows XP, and some prior art in X. Looks like it was accepted two days ago."

4 of 714 comments (clear)

  1. Another one for the EFF to bust. by Anononnyous+Covvard · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Was the prior art in X prior to Windows XP's release and/or wide beta?

  2. Funding by nurb432 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When a case such as this is won, and the patent is revoked, is there any funding that is returned to the side that won to recover litigation costs?

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  3. This is potentially good for us... by Scaz7 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think all this patenting is actually a bad move on m$'s behalf..

    Think about it, if they keep patenting little stupid things like this as an attempt to cripple and slow down alternate desktops such as X from advancing in the market place then this in the long run is probably a bad move,

    As it's already been proved many times that if you make something not possible for someone they will work out a compromise and at least 70% of the time come up with something better and more efficient.

    Obviously the desktop war is far from over but the industry needs innovation (Even if it has to be forced into it)

  4. Re:The usual convenient mistake, eh? by VdG · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I don't wish to seem petty, but the examples you give are NOT software. They're mathematical algorithms which could be implemented in software if you wanted. Or you could build dedicated hardware to do it, or you could work it all out by hand, (in theory), or anything else you fancy.