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This is why software patents are stupid

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:18 pm
by m3mn0n
Microsoft got fined for creating a feature within their own software systems.

Someone else actually patented a concept that linked their applications and Microsoft now owes him $9.9 million because they infringed on his patent.

LOL
Microsoft fined $9.9M in patent case
California jury held company lifted technology from inventor in Access and Excel programs.
June 6, 2005: 2:04 PM EDT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Reuters) - A jury in federal court found that Microsoft Corp. infringed on a 1994 patent by a Guatemalan inventor involving technology related to linking its Access and Excel programs and ordered the world's largest software maker to pay $9.9 million in damages.

A jury in the U.S. District Court of Central California told Microsoft to pay Carlos Armando Amado $9.9 million for software that links Microsoft's Excel program with its Access database application via a single spreadsheet.

The jury award takes into account Microsoft software sold between March 1997 and July 2003. U.S. District Judge David Carter will review the case to determine how much, if any, additional damages should be awarded be awarded for programs sold to date, said plaintiff's attorney Vincent Belusko.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/06/technol ... /index.htm

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:19 pm
by programmermatt
You think that's bad? Have a look at this patent.