While it is a windfall for the person mentioned, and it is nice to see Microsoft paying out more money as punishment, the problem comes from the whole premise of software patents. I think the patent owned by the Aussie inventor is most likely to be a software patent. All software patents are stupid to exist and I am hopeful that all of these types will be thrown out of court and the USPTO will correct it’s mistakes. It is laughable to see MS defending software patents only to pay out half-a-billion dollars in the penalty for violating some dubious patent. I therefore challenge Microsoft to drop the rubbish being spouted by Ballmer and once and for all say that there will be no more software patents anymore. Wait, it is snowing in Singapore! Wow!