Apple, Google and Microsoft hit by Patent Infringement
The world of software patents is a bit like Monthy Python - the reason why Apple, Google and Microsoft have been hit by a lawsuit is that they use thumbnails to preview files like images and video in their applications. This is already pretty funny, but we might be in for some even more ridiculous events. All three companies have loads of patents and I’m sure some of them are just as absurd, so we might, for example, see Microsoft counter-suing Cygnus Systems for use of double-clicking (Microsoft really *does* hold that patent).
In the USA holding software patents is part of the business and it is very unwise for any medium or large company not to hold any, regardless of how absurd the patents might seem.
The EU has still not legalized software patents. It’s worth keeping in mind that this might change someday - there have been some lobbying attempts in the past to change it.
These kinds of lawsuits happen very rarely. Most companies don’t want to get into them for many reasons, so I really wonder what Cygnus Systems wants to get out of it. It should make for some funny reading though :]
