A federal jury awarded a former Universary of California researcher $521 million asserting that Internet Explorer Web browser infringed U.S. Patent No. 5,838,906 for sending software applications over the internet. Microsoft will appeal. Is it just me or does the patent office have issue patents for just about anything? I think sending software applications over the internet is a bit broad and while I admit I didn’t read the specific patent. Talk about going against a 1000 pound gorilla, good luck to the researcher (he’ll need it), because IE has like 90%+ domination in the browser market. Would be nice to see a couple real competitors in the browser market though and I do think that since Microsoft has announced no more new standalone browsers this will open up the field a bit more. Netscape is out, Mozilla is nice but hasn’t got nearly the penetration needed, iRider rocks but it costs $$ and it will be difficult for a browser that isn’t free to compete with the others that are. Maybe an opportunity for some other browser to step up?