Where Have All the Ideas Gone?

Where have all the ideas gone?
- long time passing
Where have all the ideas gone?
- long time ago
Where have all the ideas gone?
Redmond swiped them, every one.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
(Apologies to Joan Baez.)

From the Priceline.com press release, explaining why they are suing Microsoft for patent infringement (emphasis mine):

...[P]riceline.com's complaint explains how, over an eight month period, Microsoft sought - and was provided with - detailed confidential information and technical data regarding priceline.com. Over that period, during which nondisclosure agreements were entered into, the two companies sought to structure a mutually beneficial business relationship, including possible joint marketing programs and licensing of priceline.com's intellectual property.

...Meetings continued, in what priceline.com thought was good-faith, as the two parties explored a number of mutually beneficial ways to work together. In the summer of 1999, the question of business partnerships was also part of a face-to-face discussion between Mr. Walker and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.

During that conversation, Mr. Gates surprised Mr. Walker by informing him that Microsoft had no intention of allowing patent rights to stand in its way. Mr. Gates went on to say that many other companies were suing Microsoft for patent infringement and that priceline.com could, in effect, get in line. A few weeks following the discussion between Mr. Gates and Mr. Walker, Microsoft launched Expedia's Hotel Price Matcher service, which directly infringes priceline.com's '207 patent.

Obviously, if Priceline's executives had visited Microfits, they would have learned the true definitions of key Microsoft words, which was provided in an item called A Microsoft-to-People Translation Guide:

Innovative: Swiped. Example: "The Windows look-and-feel is innovative."

Core: Bought. Example: "Our web browser is core technology."

Partner: A way of gaining access to another company's sensitive technology before deciding a new project is to be Innovative or Core.

This is just another sad event that will keep repeating itself until companies decide not to open their pantries to the ever-hungry -- but tasteless -- Redmond Beast.

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