Microsoft Applies For Patent On Tufte's Sparklines

jenkin sear writes "Data visualization guru Edward Tufte developed Sparklines, a great way to display condensed data as an inline graphic. Excel's new version has incorporated the design element — and Microsoft has applied for a patent on them — without so much as a by-your-leave from Tufte."

Why are you surprised?

[stillpixel]

It is very obvious that Microsoft has never payed much attention to design concepts, especially user interface design concepts.

Obligatory Plunger Analogy

[hoytak]

http://wondermark.com/555/ [wondermark.com]

Re:Obvious bad patent

[mister_playboy]

fuck you in the neck.

Only works if OP has had his larynx removed.

Right initial, wrong patent

[gmuslera]

They should patent Tourette instead, so maybe the rest of the world stop getting its symptoms every time they make a move.

Re:Obvious bad patent

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not? I've got pictures of your mother doing it last night.

Re:Opposing patents

[Antique Geekmeister]

And, of course, you've provided no less than four paragraphs advertising your expertise, and not one single statement about the actual validity of the patent. You must be _amazing_ at preparing defense witnesses for testimony: answering the question without providing the information someone was really looking for is, in fact, an art form which you've just demonstrated quite well.

Re:Obvious bad patent

[pishfish]

I think you will find I have prior art on this with a patent I filed entitled: "The use of the neck as a penis warmer"

New Patent!

[Anonymous Coward]

New Patent! Sparklines ***on the internet***!

I'll make BILLIONS!

Especially since that patent would screw over Office documents like excel with a sparkline being saved as a HTML page...

For my next patent, "Sparklines ***In Open Office***!!!" I tells ya, the opportunities here are endless!