Re: Microsoft Patents the Body Electric

[David Kastrup]

The Ghost In The Machine <ewill@aurigae.athghost7038suus.net> writes:

> In comp.os.linux.advocacy, Hamilcar Barca
> <hamilcar@tld.always.invalid>
>  wrote
> on Tue, 22 Jun 2004 19:05:02 -0600
> <20040622210449.598$Bl@news.newsreader.com>:
> > In article <e7946e7b.0406221349.4c7432c4@posting.google.com> (Tue, 22 Jun
> > 2004 15:04:22 -0700), theodp wrote:
> >
> >> On Tuesday, the USPTO awarded Microsoft a patent for its 'Method
> >> and apparatus for transmitting power and data using the human body'
> >> [2], which covers the use of the human body as a conductive medium
> >> (bus) over which power, data and control signals may be distributed.
> >
> > Sir Bilious and his minion, the Earl of Blammer, will be fabulously well
> > to do.  Just think
> >
> >   Earth's population:          5,200,000,000
> >   Licensing fee (per body):             $299
> >                           ------------------
> >                           $1,554,800,000,000
> >
> > Of course, there will be body piracy and Microslave may need to lower the
> > EULA fees for developing countries, but still!
> >
> > Let's hope the Free Human Foundation and the Open Body Initiative design
> > some new humans quickly!
> 
> Couldn't we claim prior art on this one?

Electrical chairs were not invented by Microsoft, even though they
stole the idea for their blue screen of death and other user
interface experiences.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum