Actually, Prior art did exsist in this case the Viola browser featured embedded content. But for some reason the Judge didn't allow that information to make it to the Jury. Viola's creator actually talks about this, and has some other comments about the trial and history of this patent here: http://www.xcf.berkeley.edu/~wei/viola/aboutEolasM icrosoft.html
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Actually, Prior art did exsist in this case the Viola browser featured embedded content. But for some reason the Judge didn't allow that information to make it to the Jury. Viola's creator actually talks about this, and has some other comments about the trial and history of this patent here: http://www.xcf.berkeley.edu/~wei/viola/aboutEolasM icrosoft.html