Microsoft Sued by SurfCast over Alleged Windows 8 Patent Violation

quotes from the patent application:

The technologies include patent 6,724,403 (’403): “System and method for simultaneous display of multiple information sources.” The ’403 patent covers the method of “presenting information from variety of sources on a display device.” It details a graphical user interface that ”organizes content from a variety of information sources into grid of tiles each of which can refresh its content independently of the others.”

SurfCast says claims the patent infringement affects all versions of Windows 8 and Windows RT, but not Windows Phone 8.  The patents diagrams are shown below for your comparison:     SurfCast requests that orders are submitted showing that Microsoft has directly infringed, and are also ordering Microsoft to “account and pay to SurfCast all damages caused to SurfCast by reason of Microsoft’s patent infringement.” Legal experts indicate that this may simply be a trolling maneuver for cash, since SurfCast –while owning three patents– have not made or sold anything of its own since they were founded in 2001. The quickest and easiest way out for Microsoft may simply be to reach a quick settlement assuming SurfCast does not get too greedy. Do yo see a resemblance between the two applications?]]>