I fully agree. I despise patents on anything that stifles interoperability. However this wasn't anything new. Din't we grow up with patents on GIF? Isn't Apple doing the same with patents on NFC sessions? [1] Or Google with their proprietary file system[2]? Don't even get me started on the bucket load of patents IBM has collected over the decade. Then why single out Microsoft? Patent wars between corporations is nothing new. (However, I would develop a deep hatred if they went after non-profit org like Linux with this.)
The point I am trying to make is, it was/is common for corporations to file patents on most trivial things. I find the Patent Office at fault here.
[1]http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2013/05/apple-fi...
[2]http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/06/google-file-system-...