Fallout From Japanese Patent On Help Icon

MeridianOnTheLake writes "The Tokyo District Court has ordered the destruction of Ichitaro, a software product that is the only serious competitor in Japan to Microsoft Word, and has been on sale since 1985. The ruling is based on the claim of a competitor, Matsushita, that the use of a help icon to invoke a help function infinges on one of their patents. "We are a global enterprise and we are just following international practice to enforce our IP rights," Kitadeya (Matsushita) said." Here's more on the story, as covered by Bloomberg and The Japan Times.

Comments

Where have I seen that before?

[Mr2001]

Matsushita declined to say whether it thinks any other software vendors may be infringing its patent.

Gee, do you think there might be any other software out there that uses a help icon? *cough* *coughwindowsmacoswordexcelaccesspowerpointwordper fect--* *sputter* *choke*

Dear Godzilla

[stephenisu]

In the enclosed envelope is a map of all Japanese Patent Offices.
They told me to tell you that your mother is a dishonorable dirty woman.

attatchment [jpomap.png]

Re:Patents must be published

[pmc]

We really need some sort of system so that people remember the spelling.

Re:Now if only someone had patented "Clippy"

[Anonymous Coward]

I actually hold the patent for Clippy but I'm too ashamed to sue anybody.