I’m sure I’ve probably ranted about software patents before, but this is just blatantly ridiculous. Microsoft has patented a method to elevate a user’s privileges. Now, I know the exact dialog box they are trying to protect, and I realize it functions just a tiny bit different than a normal ‘sudo’ command on Linux or Mac. However, the end result is the same: an unprivileged user is allowed, by user interaction, to run programs at a higher privilege level. There could be a technical difference here though. ‘Sudo’ allows a user in a specific list to gain the privileges of a higher user. If you’re not in the list, too bad. Microsoft’s implementation requires that you actually authenticate as an administrative user. So let’s go one better: the ‘su’ command in Linux (probably exists on a Mac too). The ‘su’ command does exactly what MS is doing (and then some); it allows a totally unprivileged user to become the root user, (or any other user), if they know that user’s password. And don’t forget that a patent must not be ‘obvious’ in nature. Not sure how this one gets around that. This also isn’t just a patent application at this point, they have already been awarded the patent…

More info at http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20091111094923390