Microsoft Copies Idea, Admits It, Then Patents It

An anonymous reader writes "BlueJ is a popular academic IDE which lets students have a visual programming interface. Microsoft copied the design in their 'Object Test Bench' feature in Visual Studio 2005 and even admitted it. Now, a patent application has come to light which patents the very same feature, blatantly ignoring prior art."

Oh, it gets worse...

[adam]

Based on their behavior here, Microsoft may also already own the patent on having brass balls!

A quick USPTO search doesn't find any specifically covering brass balls as big as these ones, so look for them to file for that patent pretty soon. Amusing sidenote.. I actually did search, and did come across this [colitz.com]. And a backup (less amusing) source [freepatentsonline.com] if first goes down.

Bellyaching Software "Patents"

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry I just patented complaining about patents. I'm sending you a cease and desist letter.

Re:Sick Software "Patents"

[erroneus]

I know of no such rule. A corporate entity should always be handled as a single entity... ...which is why I think the term "drawn and quartered" should have been used during sentencing of their criminal conviction rather than broken into separate entities.

Re:Go To The Source

[master0ne]

Because this course of action has already been patented by the USPTO, and as such, you would be infringing on their rights...

Re:Microsoft is not a single entity

[ThinkFr33ly]

Quiet you. Logical and rational thinking like that has no place on Slashdot.

US Patent #1

[Propaganda13]

That reminds me of this game.
http://www.cheapass.com/products/boardgames/cag034 .html [cheapass.com]

Eureka! You've just invented time travel.
But the awful truth is that you're not alone.
In fact, scientists have been inventing time travel since 1814.
But if you have a time machine, it really doesn't matter who invented it first. All that matters is who gets to the Patent Office first.
And by "first" we mean on opening day. Because nothing suits a time machine like U.S. Patent 1.

Re:Sick Software "Patents"

[cp.tar]

Besides, if people object to "Microsoft are", how do they react to "Windows is shutting down"?

Re:Sick Software "Patents"

[Phisbut]

how do they react to "Windows is shutting down"?

I react very positively to that. "This nightmare is over" is usually my thought.

Re:Sick Software "Patents"

[Haeleth]

in the US we consider a corporation to be a "corporate personhood". So a corporation is practically indistinguishable from a person under our laws.

Actually, there are many differences:

• Corporations cannot be sentenced to death or sent to jail. Humans cannot be ordered to be split up.
• Corporations do not have the vote.
• Corporations pay different taxes.
• Corporations cannot hold passports or driving licenses.
• Corporations cannot marry or adopt children.
• Corporations do not have to have been incorporated for 21 years before they are permitted to purchase alcohol, nor do they have to have been incorporated for 14-18 years before they are permitted to screw their customers.

Re:Sick Software "Patents"

[fluffywuffy]

So, is Microsoft "a thieving bastard",
or are Microsoft "thieving bastards" ? :-)

Re:Bellyaching Software "Patents"

[KUHurdler]

Good thing I already have the patent on "Cease and Desist Letters"