http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Research http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Research MSR regularly does amazing stuff, of which a lot gets patented:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Research http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Research MSR regularly does amazing stuff, of which a lot gets patented: http://www.google.com/search?q=MS+Research+patents http://www.google.com/search?q=MS+Research+patents I'd say hiring lots of bright guys and girls and investing heavily in R&D ($9.5B according to 1) constitutes positive economic activity. [1] http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=3214217&* http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=3214217&#38...