[LINK] Microsoft wins double-click patent

[Rick Welykochy]

Howard Lowndes wrote:

> On Thu, 2004-06-03 at 10:18, Chirgwin, Richard wrote:
> 
>>>From the SMH:
>>http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/02/1086058889577.html
>><http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/02/1086058889577.html> 
>>
>>'A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed
>>for a short, i.e., normal, period of time. An alternative function of the
>>application is launched if the button is pressed for a long, (e.g., at least
>>one second), period of time. Still another function can be launched if the
>>application button is pressed multiple times within a short period of time,
>>e.g., double click'.
> 
> 
> Prior art.  Mobile phones have been doing this for years.

I believe it has been pointed out before that the problem with
the US's patent system are manifold: (a) the patent office is
underskilled at evaluating patents and patent veracity,
(b) patents are often granted without sufficient background
checking for things like prior art (due apparently to understaffing,
not underskilling) and (c) there is a de facto culture of "grant
the patent and let them sort it out in court if they want to
in the future".

This of course biases the entire system in favour of huge corps
with lotsa moola, and makes it v.difficult if not impossible for
a wee little'un like meself to obtain an international patent
on that great idea i have for rolling up soft tissue paper onto
a cardboard tube ....


cheers
rickw



-- 
_________________________________
Rick Welykochy || Praxis Services

"Imagine working in a secure environment and finding the string
  _NSAKEY in the OS binaries without a good explanation."
     -Alan Cox 04/05/2001