Microsoft Pockets Patent for Encouraging TV Viewing 266
theodp writes "Through its WebTV unit, Microsoft was awarded a patent Tuesday for a system and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs, such as offering viewers frequent-flier miles for identifying the name of a sponsor or the color of an announcer's shirt. In other news, Microsoft took a District Court to task for failing to recognize the existence of prior art for the Eolas web plug-in patent, resulting in a $521 million judgment against the software giant."
Incentives?? (Score:5, Insightful)
One more reality show like "Wife Swapping" [eonline.com] and I'm going to kill my TV...
Huh? (Score:3, Insightful)
Sedentary life is its own reward.
Come on (Score:2, Insightful)
I Don't Know ABout You (Score:0, Insightful)
The good old days (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Prior art? (Score:2, Insightful)
I call shenanigans! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I call shenanigans! (Score:2, Insightful)
Local News... (Score:3, Insightful)
"Just write down the the name of the visitor in today's show and send a postcard to Win a CAR P.O. blah blah..."
I seem to remember these as far back as the 80's.
That and local news pulling similar tricks to get you to watch.
Re:Come on (Score:4, Insightful)
You think Microsoft has a lot of patents? Check out IBM.
Comment removed (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Up next... (Score:2, Insightful)
You could make money off that one!
Microsoft's future plans (Score:3, Insightful)
Between that, and their bank account, they could pretty much eliminate everything that stands in their way.
Re:Incentives?? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:TV outright sucks (Score:3, Insightful)
Kinda funny, iddn't it? Watching too much TV == bad, a lot of the content is pretty insulting to the intelligence. Not watching TV == bad, a few things are pretty darned good, but they're being missed.
Re: I call shenanigans! (Score:3, Insightful)