Microsoft patents tabbed browsing in South Africa

Some of us would say that IE was the last browser to implement tabbed browsing but that hasn't stopped them from claiming that they invented it and they have patented the technology here in South Africa.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Software/9622.html

Among the patents granted to Microsoft by Cipro (Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office) is the controversial OOXML patent, which has been contested around the globe, as well as patents on selecting a tab in a tabbed browser window, splitting software downloads into smaller parts, and selecting view modes and settings on a PC.

A search for Microsoft on Cipro's new online patent listing service turns up 618 results with Microsoft as the applicant. But, because, most entries on the patent database appear to be duplicated it is safe to assume that at least 300 are unique patents.

Those 300 patents were either filed for, or granted, between 2003 and 2009.

It's hard to tell just why Microsoft wants to register a patent which clearly has no chance of being successfully used (even given the notorious bribability of African lawmakers), so I suspect it has more to do with a global campaign to bring other countries' patent systems more in line with the USPO system.

Currently they are lobbying hard within the European Parliament to bring Software Patents to Europe.