[PRL] Microsoft seeks patent on (x != y)

[William D Clinger]

Carl Hewitt wrote:

    Microsoft has applied for a patent on (lambda (x y) (not (eq x y)))!

    It is United States Patent Application 20040230959 titled the "IS NOT
    OPERATOR" which is "A system, method and computer-readable medium support
    the use of a single operator that allows a comparison of two variables to
    determine if the two variables point to the same location in memory."

While I would not disagree with anyone who characterizes this as
a joke, it does not seem to be a hoax.  It appears to be for real.
See

    http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1730f746,00.asp
    http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1730746,00.asp

Will