MS loses patent suit: forgot to buy jury

From Observable Phenomena

– A news report yesterday stated that benevolent software hegemony Microsoft (all blessings to them [please don’t hurt us!]) lost a patent suit brought jointly by Eolas Technology and the University of California. The jury decided that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer contains functions that infringe an Eolas-UC patent, and the jury awarded the plaintiffs over half a billion dollars. Microsoft, looking through its pockets for spare change to tip the legal staff, announced that they will appeal the decision. Given the justice system’s track record in dealing with Microsoft, one can expect that within five years California will boast the William Gates University of California, and that the degrees it grants will be licensed on a three-year renewable basis.