... You have GOT to be kidding.
Microsoft has successfully patented using short, long or double clicks to launch different applications on "limited resource computing devices" - presumably PDAs and mobile phones. The US patent was granted on 27 April.
Now any US company using a variety of clicks to launch different software functions from the same button will have to change their product, pay licensing fees to Microsoft or give Microsoft access to its intellectual property in return.
British company Symbian, which makes operating systems for mobile phones that employ double clicks and has offices in the US could be affected, as could PalmOne in California, which supplies PDA software.
Several activists who oppose software patents say that Microsoft's patent is not a "sensible use" of the patenting system because the idea of the long, short and double clicks is neither novel or non-obvious.
You wonder how long it will be before patent offices decide that (a) software can never ever ever ever EVER get patented -- copyrighted, yes; patented, no -- and that they should scrutinize all technology-related patent applications so long and thoroughly that the technology companies just surrender and apply for copyrights instead.
I mean, really, this is just beyond silly.
Posted by iain at June 04, 2004 01:48 PM
