ITGumbo: spicing IT up

Premier International Associates is suing Microsoft, Verizon, AT&T, Dell, Toshiba... basically anyone who makes a computer or facilitates use of a computer. The issue at hand is the violation of Premier's "patent" for an electronic "list building system." And how exactly did they patent all playlists? With the following language: "A plurality of works can be collected together in a list for purposes of establishing a play or a presentation sequence. The list can be visually displayed and edited."

Through the magic of our fine country's poorly funded patent office, pretty much any ridiculous patent can be granted to anybody, and the validity of the "invention" is only challenged when an infringement suit is brought before a judge. Still, we have to wonder where all this patent-hording is leading us.