[IP] Microsoft patents the double-click?
Begin forwarded message:
From: Barry Ritholtz <ritholtz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: June 3, 2004 7:09:36 AM EDT
To: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Microsoft patents the double-click?
Hi Dave,
A story on slashdot claims that Microsoft has won the patent to the
"double-click." The Public Patent Foundation is protesting this as they
did Microsoft's patent on the FAT File System.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Microsoft was granted a
patent for double-clicking on April 27 . The patent in question is
6,727,830 and says, amongst other stuff: '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'. So this is what we have to look foward to in
the E.U. now?"
Patent link:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,727,830.WKU.&OS=PN/6,727,830&RS=PN/
6,727,830
I can't verify this as the Sydney Morning Herald link is down --
perhaps the Aussies got scammed and took the story down --
Google News does confirm the story ran:
Microsoft granted patent for double-click
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - Jun 1, 2004
By Sam Varghese. Microsoft has been granted a patent on the
double-click by the US Patents and Trademark Office. The patent, number
...
Microsoft now owns the double click
Digital Connect News (subscription), Australia - 11 hours ago
Microsoft has successfully patented the double-click – the
‘traditional’ method of launching applications on a PC - in the US. ...
Bizarre . . .
Barry L. Ritholtz
Market Strategist
Maxim Group
britholtz@xxxxxxxxxxxx
(212) 895-3614
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