Google, Microsoft, Apple sued over preview icons

Google, Microsoft, Apple sued over preview icons

Amin N.Karimi on 27 December 2008 - 17:22 · 18 comments & 7590 views

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A Michigan-based networking company on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Google, Microsoft, and Apple alleging that all three tech giants violated a patent it owns on the use of document-preview icons--or thumbnails--in operating systems.

In the suit (PDF), Cygnus Systems targets Google's Chrome, Microsoft's Vista and Internet Explorer 8, and Apple's iPhone, Safari, and Mac OS X as patent infringers. Apple uses the patent-protected technology in its Finder and Cover Flow Mac OS X features, the lawsuit claims.

Cygnus describes the technology covered by the patent as "methods and systems for accessing one or more computer files via a graphical icon, wherein the graphical icon includes an image of a selected portion or portions of one or more computer files."

News source: CNET News

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#1 Grandaevus on 27 Dec 2008 - 17:49

Software patents FTW

#2 shhac on 27 Dec 2008 - 19:51

Cygnus said,

10. Google has infringed one or more claims of the ‘850 Patent at least
by making, using, selling, and offering for sale Google's Chrome web browser
and Chrome's accompanying iconic file preview and access functionality.

I didn't realise that google sold Chrome.
Also, the patent was issued on March 18, 2008.. I'm sure that most of the stuff is older than this patent -_-

(1 reply) #3 hagjohn on 27 Dec 2008 - 20:51

The patent system really need to be overhauled.

#3.1 ThaCrip on 29 Dec 2008 - 04:19

+1 , cause some stuff is a little crossing the line.

#4 Sauron Reaver on 28 Dec 2008 - 00:14

Every time I read of such a ridiculous software patent my eyes go bloodshot, my fangs grow and my taste for blood gets overwhelming

But seriously, patenting software methods is a bloody joke. Programming is an art, and should be treated like it by giving the artist freedom to express him or herself. They should stop granting patents on such vague statements that may include the right to "inhale air into lungs" LOL

#5 neufuse on 28 Dec 2008 - 00:25

uh huh there was software doing this ever since 1995, as 3rd party add-ons... this patent should be invalidated

#6 Jelly2003 on 28 Dec 2008 - 01:30

Exactly why software patients won't last, they're mostly ridiculous stupid obvious things

#7 simon360 on 28 Dec 2008 - 04:11

I hope they're just joking. I can see them walking into a courtroom, screaming "LOL", and walking back out. Unless they're that stupid, there's no way this patent will last, it shouldn't have been allowed.

#8 themousepad on 28 Dec 2008 - 06:40

Here we go again... all big corporations stealing and sueing for anything and everything... reminds me of a patent granted in 2000 in reguards to crops grown for hundreds and thousands of years.... http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/062500-03.htm not sure what happened to it, didnt check on it but ... can you imagine some US company having the balls to patent rice and then try to charge you for harvesting and planting the grain after you paid once, planted, fertilized, watered, cultivated and stored it for your personal use next year.
The greed in business has bankrupted the whole world and we are just now seeing the results... I fear it will only get worse before it gets better.

#9 CharlyAR on 28 Dec 2008 - 07:20

LOL? I'd like to get some more info about this... I can't believe it.

PS: Cygnus is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. I wonder how much will they retain the certification.

#10 Bri- on 28 Dec 2008 - 09:25

This is yet another example of ****ed off bottom-feeders mindlessly suing out of desperation. I hope this worthless lawsuit gets thrown out of court.

#11 Esvandiary on 28 Dec 2008 - 10:21

Half of me actually thinks this is a deliberate joke; especially if, as CharlyAR said, Cygnus is an MS Gold Certified Partner. Keep managing to get more and more absurd patents and try to apply them until someone in the USPTO gets the gag...

Well, either way this is coming to nothing; all any defendant has to do is choose one or two examples from, what, 20 or so years of prior art?
(Unless the patent is specifically for a portion of the document itself - e.g. a text document - to be in the icon, in which case we're talking more like 2-3 years, since this was definitely in KDE 3.4, and probably earlier.)

#12 ThaCrip on 29 Dec 2008 - 04:25

more BS reasons people are suing , as usual

(2 replies) #13 Ogmius on 29 Dec 2008 - 18:53

I am going to make a patent for "the storage of binary data on a magnetic medium for later recovery" and sue everyone

#13.1 zaidgs on 02 Jan 2009 - 23:18

I am going to make a patent for "using your brain to think" and sue anyone who thinks this is absurd

#13.2 Solidstinch on 03 Jan 2009 - 15:42

zaidgs said,

I am going to make a patent for "using your brain to think" and sue anyone who thinks this is absurd

I guess you if that patent belonged to someone else you wouldnt be guilty of patent infringement

#14 GreyWolfSC on 31 Dec 2008 - 19:35

Prior art: Amiga OS...

#15 C_Guy on 05 Jan 2009 - 16:17

Did McDonald's stop hiring? Surely there are better ways to earn a living than these insane lawsuits?

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