Microsoft Details FOSS Patent Breaches

CptRevelation writes "Microsoft has released more detailed information on the patents supposedly in breach by the open-source community. Despite their accusations of infringement, they state they would rather do licensing deals instead of any legal action. 'Open-source programs step on 235 Microsoft patents, the company said. Free Linux software violates 42 patents. Graphical user interfaces, the way menus and windows look on the screen, breach 65. E-mail programs step on 15, and other programs touch 68 other patents, the company said. The patent figures were first reported by Fortune magazine. Microsoft also said Open Office, an open-source program supported in part by Sun Microsystems Inc., infringes on 45 patents. Sun declined to comment on the allegation.'"

Comments

Oh microsoft

[falcon5768]

Graphical user interfaces, the way menus and windows look on the screen, breach 65

You really DONT want to open that can of worms. Trust me you really dont.

Re:Oh microsoft

[kalidasa]

Hey, Microsoft, 1988 called. They want their look-and-feel lawsuit back.

Re:Oh microsoft

[drgonzo59]

A System and Method for Selecting Options from a List

All those poor people, for thousands of years, just sat there looking at a set of items and couldn't select any of them. I can see the cave men, looking at a pile of bones and trying to select one of them, but of course, Microsoft wasn't around so there was nobody to help them...how sad.

Zoom in...

[mccalli]

One more level of zoom required, Microsoft. Still can't tell what you're actually saying.

Cheers,
Ian

Re:Zoom in...

[RealEstateGuy]

Google probably has a patent on zooming so you're probably out of luck

I, for one, trust Microsoft on this

[Anonymous Coward]

after all, who knows more about breaches than Microsoft

Microsoft's customers too...they get used to having their breaches around their ankles on a daily basis

My patents

[Ziest]

"You are violating a bunch of my double secret patents. You have to guess which ones. I don't have to tell you. Give me money."

Now, where have I heard this before?

Re:E-MAIL?????

[Anonymous Coward]

I dunno, executing JavaScript in emails was a pretty novel idea. Mostly because nobody else was stupid enough to think of it.

Microsoft will win everytime

[packetmon]

Method and apparatus for clicking

Abstract

A click is made when someone's finger presses down on a mouse

Inventors: Microsoft
Assignee: Microsoft
Filed: March 14, 1929

See!

Of course!

[TheWoozle]

"...but the company says it still prefers licensing deals with open-source developers, software distributors and users instead of legal action against them."

Me too! I prefer people to just give me money rather than have to go through all the hassle of producing something of value.

Hey, Microsoft! I've got a bunch of patents that you're infringing and I would prefer that you go ahead and license them from me rather than starting an ugly legal battle. I'll even give you a deal (just this once, because you like a nice kid): $100 Million for the lot. This offer won't be repeated, so take advantage while you still can!

In other news...

[Baavgai]

SCO called and wants it's business plan back.

Giving counts is pretty useless. Calling it more detailed it like saying you'll release the personal information of the vicitms and just giving a list of nationalities; you really don't know more than you did before, but the feed got you to stay tuned.

to quote Vizzini

[BenSchuarmer]

"You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen."