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Microsoft Applies For Patent On Tufte's Sparklines

Posted by timothy on from the audacity-of-patents dept.

jenkin sear writes "Data visualization guru Edward Tufte developed Sparklines, a great way to display condensed data as an inline graphic. Excel's new version has incorporated the design element — and Microsoft has applied for a patent on them — without so much as a by-your-leave from Tufte."

5 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory Plunger Analogy by hoytak · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://wondermark.com/555/

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    Does having a witty signature really indicate normality?
  2. Re:Obvious bad patent by mister_playboy · · Score: 3, Funny

    fuck you in the neck.

    Only works if OP has had his larynx removed.

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    Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law ::: Love is the law, love under will
  3. Right initial, wrong patent by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Funny

    They should patent Tourette instead, so maybe the rest of the world stop getting its symptoms every time they make a move.

  4. Re:Obvious bad patent by pishfish · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think you will find I have prior art on this with a patent I filed entitled: "The use of the neck as a penis warmer"

  5. New Patent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    New Patent! Sparklines ***on the internet***!

    I'll make BILLIONS!

    Especially since that patent would screw over Office documents like excel with a sparkline being saved as a HTML page...

    For my next patent, "Sparklines ***In Open Office***!!!" I tells ya, the opportunities here are endless!