Windows Phone Thoughts: E-Pass Allowed to Re-open Microsoft, HP Patent Lawsuits

"Intellectual property company E-Pass has been allowed to re-commence its litigation against Microsoft and HP. The company began legal action against the software giant and Compaq early last year. E-Pass claimed that both companies infringe a patent it administers, number 5,276,311 which describes "a multifunction, credit card-sized computer that allows users to securely store a multitude of account numbers, PIN codes, access information and other data from multiple credit cards, check cards, identification cards and similar personal documents". E-Pass claims that Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs are in violation of its patent as they can deliver those functions."

I'm all for having patents protect the "little guy" from the "big guy" coming along and stealing his idea, but this is ridiculous! I'm amazed at the type of patents that are granted sometimes...