According to a couple of sources, there are some very early patents (filed in 1996 and awarded three years later) on pay-per-click advertising that could spark a bidding war. The patents cover systems and methods for online advertising rather than the technology for it, and have been dormant for years after the filing company went under.
SixDegrees Co-Founder On Friendster Patent
Do you sign into your MySpace account eight times a day? Perhaps Facebook has become your home away from home. Frankly, I hope not. But the latest news about Friendster’s patent on social networks should relax that sort of dedicated soul, and more normal users.
Google Patent Apps By The Dozen
Patent applications are apparently cheaper by the dozen. This month, 12 Google filings were published, mostly involving technologies focused on geo-targeting and local search.
Friendster Awarded Social Networking Patent
Being a pioneer of social networking has its drawbacks and benefits. Though Friendster’s thunder was stolen by the likes of MySpace, Facebook, and Bebo, a social networking patent may give the company a back door to lost revenue recovery.
Nintendo Patent Could Be Awkward For Microsoft
Nintendo has been granted a patent for a videogame instant messaging system. Originally filed in 2000, this patent could lead to lawsuits against other game console manufacturers.
Wal-Mart Tries To Patent The Smiley
Many prognosticators have foreseen a great war–a battle for world domination. These soothsayers have named Wal-Mart, Google, and Starbucks as the most powerful of the behemoths that will be involved. And in a move that is not likely to ensure victory, or even confer an advantage, Wal-Mart is staking out a powerful claim by attempting to patent the humble smiley.
Patent Office Preps Peer Review
Critics of the US Patent Office get their chance to put their expertise where their blogs are and participate in a new peer review initiative aimed at finding patents that are obvious creations and thus not qualified for a patent.
Microsoft Patent For TV Popups
Techdirt posted on this Microsoft patent filing for displaying notifications on your television when you change the channel or perform certain other actions.
Um,Doesnt This Patent Have Prior Art?
You know the world has gotten a little nutty when a Microsoft guy complains about a patent, but when Matt May last night at the Podcast Hotel told me a company is trying to patent AJAX, among other things, I was amazed when Matt said this patent looks like it tried to patent AJAX.
Patent Woes Force MS Office/Access Patch
Microsoft is being required to issue patches for new installations of Office Professional Edition 2003, Office XP Professional, and Access 2002 and 2003 after losing a 2005 patent infringement case. This means that companies in the process of new installations of the affected products must update them.