CNET: Eolas files motion to enjoin IE
Eolas - the company that surprised the Internet industry with the "submarine" patent claim that torpedoed Microsoft's Internet Explorer with a $521 billion judgment - filed a motion to prevent Microsoft from continuing to distribute its web browser.
Illustrating an increasing web of poorly-examined patents that are collectively starting to create a lot of friction in online innovation, the case is notable for the judge's refusal to consider evidence of "prior art," or claims that Eolas's idea was not original and shouldn't have been patented in the first place. The Viola browser, for instance, used the technology and predated the patent claim.
Despite the industry wailing and hand-wringing, the case will very likely be overturned on appeal, as are about 70 percent of cases at this trial level.
