For the SCAdians out there

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Patent: conjugating verbs

Microsoft plans to patent a system for conjugating verbs; however, the method as described is not particularly novel, more an extension of what is currently used. In particular, the system uses a LUT (Look-Up Table) to match the input verb form to the response. So far, the stuff of first year computer programming. What will need to be decided is whether this is novel (or lacks obviousness) enough to warrant a patent. Of greater import is the repercussions of this patent being accepted.

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060195313%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060195313&RS=DN/20060195313 - Original patent

Some additional articles on this:
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34217
http://www.itworld.com/Man/2687/060907msverb/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20060907/tc_cmp/192503744
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060901-7646.html