Microsoft Patents The Broken y-Axis

theodp writes "Microsoft was granted a patent Tuesday for Displaying data containing outlying data items, covering the familiar concept of broken y-axis bar charts. Oddly, Microsoft's 2002 'invention' is described in detail in a 1999 listserv post and found its way into scientific journals and other sources before the patent's claims were disclosed. BTW, the patent's term was extended by 269 days, apparently the USPTO's way of apologizing for initially rejecting the patent."

Comments

First Post - where is everybody?

[ralphclark]

All in front of the TV watching the election results come in I guess...

Re:First Post - where is everybody?

[Jonathan the Nerd]

Personally, I'm avoiding watching election returns. I'll find out who won tomorrow morning (which is what I told myself four years ago...)

Re:First Post - where is everybody?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you are more likely to find out who won in about three weeks.

Re:First Post - where is everybody?

[erinacht]

A watched erection never returns...