Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Retracts Patent
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has retracted their recent controversial patent application. The story was first brought to light by Slashdot on Saturday. Today, Jane Prey of Microsoft announced the retraction on the SIGCSE (Special Interest in Computer Science Education) mailing list. 'Many thanks to the members of the community that brought this to my attention — and here's the latest. The patent application was a mistake and one that should not have happened. To fix this, Microsoft will be removing the patent application. Our sincere apologies to Michael Kölling and the BlueJ community.'"
Why does it not surprise me that someone named Jane Prey is involved in a Microsoft patent SNAFU?
Microsoft recently retracted their patents on the internet and pants.
A microsoft spokesperson said 'Many thanks to the members of the community that brought this to my attention -- and here's the latest. The patent application was a mistake and one that should not have happened.'
Everyone knows Al Gore invented the internet...
"Dictator Flakes. They WILL be delicious."
Librarian: "If an article is not on Slashdot, then it does not exist." (Turns abruptly and walks away)
A week or so from now, a headless body will turn up floating in Lake Washington off Madina.
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
I have to say, with all the legal loops that you have to hop to work with corporate lawyers just to get a patent to the submission stage, that this is not just a simple mistake.
In other words, I definitely heard "And I would've gotten away with it, if it weren't for these meddling kids!" running through my head. Zoinks!
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(A)ssimilate? (Y/Y)
Microsoft will severely punish employees who falsify invention claims.
"No Jack, we're not going to fire you over this."
"You're not?"
"No -cough- there is, however, the minor matter of your reassignment. It's a cushy position - work from home really. We've taken the liberty of routing our 1-800 number for Vista activation to your home telephone number. And I'd like to be the first to welcome you to the Windows Validation department... Jack? Are you ok?"
Microsoft will now review all of the claims submitted by these bozos to make sure they didn't screw up before.
You obviously have little understanding about how a large corporation works. Those "bozos" have probably been promoted...
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Only for the autopsy to reveal decapitation by a flying chair
With a chair embedded in the torso.
If it wasn't for those meddling F/LOSS kids!
*ducks*
It's true no man is an island, but if you take a bunch of dead guys and tie 'em together, they make a good raft.