In a completely unexpected move today, Charles Babbage, creator of the
"Babbage Numerator", widely recognized to be the prototypical computer,
announced that he and his heirs will be suing all makers of computer
equipment, computer peripherals, computer-driven equipment (cars, 
microwave ovens, etc) for royalty fees retroactive to December 1, 1880.

The basis for the suit is quoted: "All computers ever produced since mine
are unlicensed derivative works, and they infringe upon my copyright of
presentation appearance which I placed on the Numerator."

In a related news item, Ada Lovelace, Babbage's live-in girlfriend,
is filing a suit against all programmers, claiming that they have unlawfully
profited from her work.