Can Microsoft Patent a Wind-Powered Data Center?

[Guest]

Once in a while, I stumble across a granted patent or a patent application that makes me wonder whether it is a serious filing or just a submission that tests the USPTO's willingness to grant a patent to something as trivial as a pound of sugar.

Can Microsoft Patent a Wind-Powered Data Center? : Read more

 

[J3d1M1nD7r1cKs]

You've got to be kidding me.

 

[jhansonxi]

Haliburton patented patent trolling a while back so why not? It just takes money - the same basis as alien abduction insurance.

 

[ellarpc]

WTF... Maybe I should file for a patent to a wind powered home

 

[gerchokas]

All this proves that they are not a serious company... Come on Microsoft, behave!

 

[Guest]

Only the scope of the claims should be considered. Give the patent number or link to google patents. Any goofy thing can be in the specification but I'd bet dollars to donuts that the claim scope is narrower than this article implies.

 

[Manos]

Whats funny is that way worse patents have been filled. Ill go google/bing "funny/odd patent filling" and see what I get. I really think that there is no way that every other major company ( even MS themselves ) have way more silly patents than this one if you ask me.

( I say silly cause I dont wanna be rude >.< )

 

[winner4455]

The system is so broken...

 

[nikorr]

[citation][nom]J3d1M1nD7r1cKs[/nom]You've got to be kidding me.[/citation]
Right?

 

[nikorr]

You cannot be serious! Common.

 

[Guest]

[citation][nom]J3d1M1nD7r1cKs[/nom]You've got to be kidding me.[/citation]

+1

 

[NITROGEnarcosis]

I could see patenting a unique control system or some other similar system but a generic "wind powered data center" just seems like trolling.

 

[LuckyDucky7]

So... what happens when the wind stops blowing for more than a couple hours?

 

[dtm4trix]

Quick someone go patent breathing air from this planet's atmosphere...........................too late?

 

[hetneo]

I'm thinking something, you know that legal systems of all countries have some kind of penalty for false crime reporting, maybe something like that is needed for patents, if you file this kind of ridiculous patent you should be rejected and forced to pay 1-2% of income from previous fiscal year.
This should be refused with "previous art" argument I think. Not sure but I think that Google has some data centers powered by wind turbines already built.

 

[eddieroolz]

Okay, I was happy about Microsoft's recent patents but this one is just stupid.

 

[Partizan92]

They are laughing at the US patent system...

 

[killerclick]

US patents don't mean squat in the rest of the world, so it's only other US companies that will be hurt by this (unless they patent this in other countries as well).

 

[house70]

I know it's stupid, but since
-square with round corners
-flat
-(relatively) thin

can be patented (and I don't recall Gruener having a problem with that), I do not see why not this one, as well. At least, this shows a shade of thought behind it.
Broken system...

 

[triodeman]

It is very common to file what appear to be frivolous patents for protection from the trolls.

 

[cookoy]

The bulls and cows are pretty angry at this filing. Apparently they claim you can't patent bullshit or cowshit as the bulls and cows own them already.

 

[RogueKitsune]

The sad thing is, the USPTO will grant Microsoft the patent.....

 

[sonofliberty08]

wonder who will going to patent flush toilet next......

 

[SmileyTPB1]

The way the patent system is going soon some large company will patent talking in the car using a hands-free device. That way they will be able to tax us all every time we do it.
(Apple, I'm looking in your direction.)

It would seem that the RIAA has gone the wrong direction. They should patent "listening to music from speakers" then they could get that money they say they are loosing every time someone listens to a song.

 

[appropriate]

Articles about patents by non-patent attorneys make me cringe. With that being said, yes, the application probably is garbage; yes, they will likely be granted some sort of patent; and yes, the patent system is broken.

You need to look at the claims to truly understand what they are asking for coverage on, and then you still need to look up the application at the USPTO site to see how the claims currently look. They almost always change during examination of the application. Usually they go from initially being completely unreasonable to just somewhat unreasonable by the time the patent is granted.

I didn't quickly find the Microsoft application. But check out the competing "technology" from Google... http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=V2vGAAAAEBAJ&dq=patent:7525207

This issued patent (#7,525,207) covers anything that has the following three things (from claim 1):

A system, comprising: (1) a computer data center proximate to a body of water comprising a plurality of computing units; (2) a sea-based electrical generator in electrical connection with the plurality of computing units; and (3) one or more sea-water cooling units for providing cooling to the plurality of computing units.