Microsoft / Eolas Patent fight timeline

Although this change to IE appears to have come out of nowhere it has in fact been a long running battle between Eolas and Microsoft, these news stories, from The Register, show its progress:

• Microsoft patches IE after Eolas ruling - 3rd April 2006
• Eolas patent ruling provokes IE tweak - 5th December 2005
• Supremes shun Microsoft's Eolas appeal - 31st October 2005
• Patent Office upholds Eolas browser patent - 30th September 2005
• Appeals court hits rewind in Microsoft Eolas case - 3rd March 2005
• MS Eolas appeal begins - 10th December 2004
• Microsoft wins another Eolas web patent battle - 19th August 2004
• Eolas' web patent nullified - 5th March 2004
• Microsoft loses $521m Eolas patent appeal - 15th January 2004
• US Patent Office will review Eolas claim - 12th November 2003
• Berners-Lee comes out fighting to save Web - 30th October 2003
• Microsoft tweaks IE - 8th October 2003
• Microsoft preps IE changes in response to patent ruling - 29th August 2003
• Microsoft fined $520m for infringing patents - 2th August 2003
• Microsoft to face patent violation claims today - 8th July 2003
• Microsoft sued over alleged ActiveX patent violation - 3rd February 1999