Microsoft's Patent Schizophrenia -- Redmondmag.com

Barney's Blog

Microsoft's Patent Schizophrenia

This week U.S. government lawyers filed comments in support of i4i's position that there should be no change in the evidence rules concerning disproving patents in legal cases. Microsoft is contesting the burden of proof in such cases after losing to Canadian-based i4i in a patent infringement case involving the use of custom XML in Office software.

Still apparently believing in our patent system, Microsoft has been going after Android, striking upon the Google OS with great vengeance and furious anger. And instead of lightning or pestilence, Microsoft, is using U.S. courts, laying its vengeance upon Android through patent lawsuit after patent lawsuit.

Instead of going directly after Google, the latest suit takes on the selfish, tyrannical and evil Nook e-reader and Color tablet from Barnes and Noble, along with two of the bookseller's partners.

Microsoft claims the devices violate patents, including one related to serving up Web content before the full image is available (isn't this just efficient loading?), user navigation such as selecting text and getting information about how the download is progressing.

I'm not sure this suit is truly in the name of charity and good will. What are your thoughts on these kinds of suits, and what Biblical rhymes am I biting in this item? Answers to both righteously received at [email protected].

Posted by Doug Barney on 03/23/2011 at 1:18 PM

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