Internet Patent In Dispute

[dArKeR]

In an unusual move, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is reconsidering a patent affecting Internet pages that critics contend could disrupt millions of Web sites.

Citing "a substantial outcry from a widespread segment of the affected industry," deputy patent commissioner Stephen G. Kunin ordered the agency's examiners to reconsider the patent they awarded in November 1998 to three researchers at the University of California.

Kunin described the case as "an extraordinary situation." The patent office has ordered such re-examinations only 151 times since 1981 and issues about 180,000 patents each year.

The patent — No. 5,838,906 — affects how Internet sites build into Web pages small interactive programs that power everything from banner ads to interactive customer service. Eolas Technologies Inc., which was founded by one of the inventors and has licensed the patent exclusively, has begun enforcing its claims and recently won a $520 million jury award against Microsoft Corp., which quickly appealed the judgment.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/12/tech/main583325.shtml

Is this a steal from the poor and give to the rich?

[sendero]

1. that's not the only one.

Acacia Media claims to have patents that cover all video downloading and streaming. They have no chance over the long term, because there is a staggering amount of provable prior art out there. But they are going after smaller sites, trying to cash in as much as possible before someone overturns their absurd patent.

The US Patent Office is out of control, granting all kinds of technology patents that do not pass muster.

[rman]

3. It is incomprehensible

Why patents are being granted for which there obviously is prior art and/or which are obviously trivial and/or which are obviously to broad. One would assume the people who work at the patent office would know such things, but apparently they don't.

[librechik]

2. Gore should get that patent!

well, shouldn't he? The GOP wouldn't lie would they?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Why the unusual move?

May it be related to the fact that, this time, the company harmed by the stupid patent is Microsoft? Naaaah... :tinfoilhat: