Microsoft Leveraging iPod Patent? 487
willie3204 was one of several readers who noticed this story about Microsoft cashing in on the iPod Patent that they apparently beat Apple to. Since this song looks to be played to the tune of $10/iPod, I imagine someone will be singing the appeal song.
Business plan for success... (Score:5, Funny)
ftfa (Score:3, Funny)
Great news source. There's a world of difference between "let other firms patent its inventions" and "let other firms license its patents."
If there's any intelligence... (Score:3, Funny)
You Win!!! (Score:4, Funny)
Congratulations! You're the first Slashbot to write 'Prior Art' in this patent discussion! Good job winning the race, and good luck with the free karma!
The Prior-Art-O-Matic (Score:3, Funny)
"It's a series of randomly-generated product ideas! It raises questions about the nature of prior art in patenting issues, has some inspiring ideas, and is occasionally amusing!"
Design #1384685891
It's a shower head that jumps like a frog and displays pornography.
Re:If there's any intelligence... (Score:3, Funny)
Ah, young Jedi. Much to learn, you have.
Re:Has anyone else actually READ the patents? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Business plan for success... (Score:5, Funny)
The older I get, the more I realize that I picked the wrong career.
Re:Legally speaking, a stroke of genius by MS (Score:0, Funny)
Yeah, Apple has sunken pretty low nowadays, crashing small companies left and right.
Re:Is it just iPod? (Score:5, Funny)
No, but I have several butter related patents pending.
1. The Butter Pen. Put your standard stick of butter in and draw the butter on to your toast/pancakes/waffles/etc. The butter pen automatically maintains the butter at the perfect temperature for spreading. the butter.
2. The Butter Powered Clock. Harnessing the internal power of butter, just feed it a new stick of butter every sunday and this clock will keep running. Plus as an added bonus your room will smell nice and butttery.
3. Popcorn Irrigation System. Ever notice how the popcorn on top gets all the butter and by the time you reach the bottom, you are gnawing on dry butterless popcorn? The Popcorn Irrigation System solves that problem once and for all by equally distributing the butter to the entire batch. Using a system of pressurized tubes and nozzles along with liquid butter, each kernel is misted equally with delicious butter.
4. Butter Rifle. For long distance buttering hobbyists. How tight is your spread?
I better not spill all the beans, these inventions are really pushing the limits of butter technology to the next phase. You can see how exciting the field still is though.
Re:Business plan for success... (Score:3, Funny)
And this makes them different from coders...How?
/me runs and ducks.Patents are the next Enron (Score:2, Funny)
CEO: Damn, let's fight back. Isn't that your job, by the way ?
Counsel: Well, they just litigated this small phony company to death, so their patent must be valid.
CEO: Nooooooooo, we're screwed.
Counsel: Oh wait, Bill's lawyer is my old friend Bob, we were in law school together, so he's willing to settle for just $100 million.
CEO: Phew, it's good to have you on board. I'll tell the good news to our shareolders.
Later...
Counsel: Hey Bob, the deal is done. See you at the club next weekend.
(Any resemblance to existing persons and companies blah blah)
What's the difference between licensing a bogus patent for millions and using invoice fraud to get money out of your company ?
Someday corporate officers will be held accountable for these monetary diversions.
Re:Business plan for success... (Score:3, Funny)
This reminds me of the old joke...
A bright, promising attorney dies in a car crash. He gets to the pearly gates, and St. Peter greets him. "Robert! You must be the 79 year old attorney who just wrecked his Porsche."
Robert says, "Um... I did wreck my porsche... but I'm 38."
"Not according to your billing records..."
Re:Is it just iPod? (Score:2, Funny)
Irrigation
Spray
System
An elaborate system of reservoirs, valves, pressure sensors and delivery ducts to evenly mist your popcorn with warm yellow liquid . . . salt included.
Re:Is it just iPod? (Score:3, Funny)
Hey! No need to get personal.
Microsoft's Terms (Score:3, Funny)