Mozilla Foundation Sues Microsoft Over Tabbed Browsing

SlashRating^© 64 slashdottit! ^tm According to the german tech-site heise.de, the Mozilla Foundation is suing Microsoft over the use of tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer 7. The Mozilla Foundation owns the patent 5,160,296 through one of their developers (Solomon Katz, a former Opera dev) and has begun suing Microsoft in Mountainview, California. The Foundation wants that MS immediately ceases to distribute IE 7 and pays 1.4 Billion dollars in damages. Heise reports that Microsoft has issued no official response, but is contemplating to ship IE 7 NT (no tabs).

Comments

It is already April 1st in Germany

[doug]

I think you've fallen for a hoax.

Mozilla (firefox tabs) vs MSFT (Office 12 ribbon)

[JackMeyhoff]

This is going to have an impact on their Office 12 ribbon tab patents isnt it?

Patent office on crack

[MaelstromX]

Ok, April fool's joke aside, what the heck is up with that patent that it is linked to?

Abstract: This directory tab would aid in organizing and tracking files in a suspended filing system. The quick reference directory saves the user time and provides a handy at-a-glance feature to a filing system. This directory tab is designed to eliminate sorting through a suspended folder; it allows the user to look at the directory and visually see what's in a folder. Its design also permits additions or deletions in a quick and efficient manner. The directory tab is designed to allow office personnel who are in need of a particular item within a suspended file folder the ability to date and initial the directory tab. In doing so, the next user that comes along needing the same information will be able to identify who has it in a quick and efficient manner.

Good grief, they'll let you patent ANYTHING won't they?

Re:Mod me insightful for no real reason

[bcmm]

MEEEE TOOO! PLEASE.

Opera ?

[Monsieur_F]

I discovered tabbed browsing with Opera. Was Mozilla really the first to implement it?

Re:Mod me insightful for no real reason

[Antique Geekmeister]

No, your llama is full of RAM. And she's going to be really surprised when the crias are born. (Or would they be lambs? Maybe lias? Maybe crambs?)

Thank God Its Sunday

[davmoo]

I'm glad April 1st is on Sunday this year. That way we don't have to worry about real news getting ignored and overlooked because Slashdot editors are too busy thinking up an entire day of bullshit stories.