Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

2 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A Few Points by ChipMonk · · Score: -1, Redundant

    The examiner will almost certainly come back with multiple rejections based on obviousness

    You have such faith in the Federal Gov't. I wish I were still as naive as you.

  2. Microsoft Applies For Patent On Tufte's Sparkline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    This is an application, not a "claim" or a "patent". That means it has yet to be examined by the USPTO. You can file an application for anything, but the examiner must do an art search and examine the case.

    Force Factor