You're obviously new here. The Vole is the Inq's nickname for Microsoft. Anyone who has read this site for more than a week will know that.
And yes, there is a certain amount of LSD required to publish articles here. That is what makes this site different from other bland news sites.

"The patent application specifically cites Tufte for Sparklines."

And? That's like taking someone else's homework and instead of crossing their name out before writing your own on, you just write "inspired by" in front of their name instead.

Yet more looting of the commons by the Vole and their corrupt patent-loving chums. You'd think that the last thing Uncle Sam would do would be to grant monopolies to a monopolist but, oh I suddenly remember: they let them off!

The US Patent Office: corporate welfare for the super-rich.

This whole article is very confusing to read. I've re-read it a few times but isn't making more sense.

Here's how it currently reads:

Tufte invents Sparklines.
Volish (What's Volish?) employees later patent the idea.
Microsoft implements Sparklines and credits Tufte.
Vole (What is Vole?) is mad because they claim to have invented it.
Tufte is upset, because everyone uses his software and knows he made it.

Is there a certain amount of LSD required before reading this? Who green-lit this article?

The patent application specifically cites Tufte for Sparklines. Did you people do ANY research at all before writing this FUD piece?

It's a software patent. Those shouldn't exist at all. I have trouble feeling sorry for this man.

And Nick nicks another man's article!

As per usual...

more sloppy journalism you did not read the patent or http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0003Y1&topic_id=1

Although it is more patent trolling by ms.

I can't believe someone was actually able to patent the graph.

a classic case of whoops and apologies from Microsoft.

With MS as heavy as the Higgs boson and its time travel to prevent the LHC from working, you must admit to the possibility that MS actually invented it and has a retrospective right to world+dog.