So ridiculous

Someone will patent the idea of 'shoes' next

[joshie76]

Adobe wins Macromedia patent suit [news.com.com] ... What a shame this crap happens.

[Lisa]

It is a shame. It just goes to show, defensive patents are a must.

Register as many patents. If someone sues you for infringing on their patent. They you look in your patent books and see what you can counter sue for. What a shame that the game has to be played this way.

[SmallTime]

I am surprised Congress hasn't gone ahead and privatised the patent office, it is almost there.

[chris_f]

What a load of testicular sacks _{(trying not to use a word beginning with b)}.

This has got to stop.

[korkus2000]

What a load of crap! I cannot believe that adobe would fall so low. Buy your copies of flash now. A revamp will take some time.

[chris_f]

I agree go out and buy Flash, however, if you want Photoshop don't buy it. Get a copy and watch Adobe go bust.

WARNING: I am not in any way suggesting you actually use copied software. That is wrong and illegal. Always purchase your software from a recognised vendor.

_{Thats covered me. :)}

[korkus2000]

Has anyone patented web tab navigation? What a nightmare that would be.

[backus]

Hasn't anyone patented smilies?

[toolman]

And thus the migration of lawyers from their proper place in society and into the business world. I can cite instance after instance where the lawyers are running the companies and making the decisions now. You can always tell.

[oilman]

>>Hasn't anyone patented smilies?

[store.yahoo.com...]

[joshie76]

for half a second there I thought that article was for real :o

[mivox]

Argh! Oilman beat me to the frownies link!

I personally couldn't believe Adobe filed that... And Macromedia has let themselves be dragged to the same level:

A trial is scheduled to begin in the same court Monday regarding Macromedia's first countersuit, charging that Adobe's Photoshop image-editing software and its GoLive Web design software infringe on two patents that Macromedia holds for editing tools. A second Macromedia countersuit, filed last year in U.S. District Court for Northern California, is not yet scheduled for trial.

I'm personally hoping the verdict is thrown out on appeal, and the patent office pulls its head out of the very dark place it's apparently been stuffed into... They really need to stop issuing frivolous patents. How about the 7 year old who patented a method for swinging sideways on playground swing sets?

[lauren1396]

If you've seen the Flash MX interface, you'll notice that they totally redesigned the tabs....gee, I wonder why? It's a shame though, I liked having the ability to drag option tabs around.

[mivox]

Now Macromedia has won their patnet infringment suits against Adobe. Tit for tat... heartwarming, isn't it?

[Stickymaster]

Has anyone patented the TM symbol? :) :)

Stickymaster.

[feeder]

I hold the patent for the name Brett_Tabke (TM)

Webmasterworld will be hearing from my lawyers

[joshie76]

I think someones already got the TM on 'feeder'.... I can see the countersuit already.