M$ sued over web patent, mice
 

Arbitrary objects

A COMPANY FILED a patent infringement case against Microsoft in a Texas district court while another filed a separate case in a Washington district court.

Vertical Computer Systems Inc (VSI) alleges Microsoft has violated patent 6,826,744, which describes a "system and method for generating web sites in an arbitrary object framework".

VSI alleges that Microsoft sells software including the .Net development platform that breaches this patent.

In a Washington district court, F&G Research filed an 830 patent action alleging Microsoft has infringed patent 5,313,229, called "mouse and method for concurrent cursor position and scrolling control." It's alleged Microsoft markets a four way or up and down mouse covered in the 229 and another patent, number 5,374,942. The firm also alleges that Microsoft keyboards like the desktop 4000 and 8000 use wheels which infringe F&G technology. Both want juries to decide damages in the case.



The INQuirer