Top Microsoft Execs Moonlighting For a Patent Bully

theodp writes "TechFlash reports that Microsoft bigwigs like Craig Mundie and Bill Gates (when he still worked there) have been secretly moonlighting at Intellectual Ventures (IV), the 'patent extortion fund' run by Bill's pal Nathan Myhrvold. A Microsoft spokesman confirmed that its technologists have been sitting in on IV-sponsored 'innovation sessions,' where their pearls of wisdom were captured and turned into patent applications for Searete, an IV shadow corporate entity. And if all goes well, Searete will soon enjoy exclusive rights to the fruit of the brainstorming, which includes processes ranging from determining and rewarding 'influencers' to treating malaria, HIV, TB, hepatitis, smallpox, and cancer."

Re:If I were a Microsoft investor

[qoncept]

"Microsoft is not doing its job as looking after its investors interests if it does not pursue the employees involved for this."

BRAIN GAMES! Unscramble the prepositions to discover what Microsoft is doing wrong!
Solution: Microsoft is not doing its job of looking after its investors' interests if it does not pursue the employees involved in doing this.

Seriously, though.. Who is investing in Microsoft?

Call Jerry

[mfh]

Microsoft is not doing its job as looking after its investors interests if it does not pursue the employees involved for this.

This will be addressed in the next advertisement, as rumored all over the internet (starting here).

Jerry Seinfeld: "Bill -- what were you thinking?! You can't give away that secret to the OTHER GUY -- YOU GOTTA KEEP THAT FOR MSFT. What will the shareholders say?? They'll say that wasn't very fair of you, that what they'll say!"

Bill Gates: "They promised no one would find out."

Jerry Seinfeld: "This reminds me of when my Mom used to make me eat chicken soup. She'd say that it's an honest thing to eat chicken soup you paid for with your own money -- AND that's true, today, you know."

Bill Gates: "What?"

Jerry Seinfeld: "You gotta eat chicken soup, Bill. I know a guy who ... here is the spot right here, let's go inside and we can eat, but you gotta do it simple, Bill -- just hand over the money and say the name of the soup. But that's all you can do. So, you hold out your money, speak your soup in a loud, clear voice, step to the left and receive...It's very important not embellish on your order. No extraneous comments. No questions. No compliments."

Bill Gates: "Okay."

Soup Nazi: "YES."

Bill Gates: "Uh... what's good today?"

Soup Nazi: "WAT!"

Bill Gates: "What do you recommend for someone who is having a bad day?"

Soup Nazi: "WAT! THIS NO 20 QUESTIONS. NO SOUP FOR YOU!"

Re:If I were a Microsoft investor

[Rei]

Besides, any funds raised will be put toward the charitable cause of buying Myhrvold and extra vowel for his last name, so it's not all bad.

Re:If I were a Microsoft investor

[Ethanol-fueled]

Stupid ideas like that eventually fail, and they will fail even more given America's changing political climate.

SCO, for example. Good for Microsoft that they had nothing to do with that fiasco...

oh, wait [wired.com].

Re:Offtopic note

[DAldredge]

You should never listen to one who has a UID of less than 5 digits.

Re:since when is Microsoft in the vaccine business

[$0.02]

Since they released Windows Live OneCare.