Author Topic: Latest Bit of Insanity in the World of Patent Law (Read 17247 times)

40hz · « **on:** July 18, 2008, 11:19 PM »

Are you ready for this?

A Florida based company called Channel Intelligence is asserting that they hold a patent (US Patent 6,917,941 ) giving them exclusive rights to store "wish lists" in a database. They are also selectively targeting over a dozen small web startups for lawsuits - although they have conspicuously avoided any legal action (so far) against bigger players (such as Amazon) who have the resources to fight back.

See the posting Channel Intelligence files patent law suit against wishlist web startups
at the following link: http://www.heise-onl...eb-startups--/111129

When will it ever end?

TucknDar · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:34 AM »

Damn, why didn't I get a patent on the use of .com in website addresses, I'd be so rich

Shades · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:43 AM »

Of course I am talking to the wrong crowd here (

), but the only time this behavior will stop is when greed, laziness and the 'me, myself and I" mentality leaves everyone's mind.

Actually, for this (global) state of mind the one's to blame are....the Dire Straits! (mainly because they even sang about: "Money for nothing and chicks for free"). Now who wouldn't want that?

Unfortunately, but it is fair to assume that we all had to learn the hard (and maybe harsh) way about the value of money earned. I like to think those lessons made me a better person, but lately I don't see that (new) parents teach those lessons to their kids anymore...which results in the kind of society we are facing now. And (fill this space with the deity you prefer) knows what's in store for the future.

Ok,ok, I'll stop ranting now...after everybody gets off my lawn!!!

Shades · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:47 AM »

@ TucknDar:

If we go that way....I wish I had the patent for the binary number system. With the money pouring in from that one I could buy the Bill Gates mansion as my own personal holiday resort with him as my butler!

TucknDar · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:53 AM »

clever thinking, Shades

cranioscopical · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2008, 01:13 PM »

I wish I had the patent for the binary number system
-Shades (July 19, 2008, 02:47 AM)

That does make one think a bit.

40hz · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2008, 01:17 PM »

Actually, for this (global) state of mind the one's to blame are....the Dire Straits! (mainly because they even sang about: "Money for nothing and chicks for free"). Now who wouldn't want that?

-Shades (July 19, 2008, 02:43 AM)

Can't speak for the money, but I wouldn't want any chicks - for free or otherwise. Our local zoning laws don't permit poultry keeping on residential lots. And my town's animal shelter won't take livestock.

Shades · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:47 PM »

I wish I had the patent for the binary number system
-Shades (July 19, 2008, 02:47 AM)
That does make one think a bit.

-cranioscopical (July 19, 2008, 01:13 PM)

I will zero in on that one

cranioscopical · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2008, 02:59 PM »

I wish I had the patent for the binary number system
-Shades (July 19, 2008, 02:47 AM)
That does make one think a bit.

-cranioscopical (July 19, 2008, 01:13 PM)

I will zero in on that one
-Shades (July 19, 2008, 02:47 PM)

I thought you might byte.

cranioscopical · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2008, 03:04 PM »

Actually, for this (global) state of mind the one's to blame are....the Dire Straits! (mainly because they even sang about: "Money for nothing and chicks for free"). Now who wouldn't want that?

-Shades (July 19, 2008, 02:43 AM)

Can't speak for the money, but I wouldn't want any chicks - for free or otherwise. Our local zoning laws don't permit poultry keeping on residential lots. And my town's animal shelter won't take livestock.

-40hz (July 19, 2008, 01:17 PM)

Who would cry fowl, unless there were Private Investigations?

Shades · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2008, 03:09 PM »

And after that 'the Brothers in Arms' will take care of your imprisonment I'm sure.

cranioscopical · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2008, 08:26 PM »

Where do you think you're going with that?

Shades · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2008, 01:24 AM »

To the 'Sultans of Swing'?

Maybe they will lend a forgiving ear and declare the sentence NULL and void...

40hz · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2008, 10:58 AM »

Actually, for this (global) state of mind the one's to blame are....the Dire Straits! (mainly because they even sang about: "Money for nothing and chicks for free"). Now who wouldn't want that?

-Shades (July 19, 2008, 02:43 AM)

Can't speak for the money, but I wouldn't want any chicks - for free or otherwise. Our local zoning laws don't permit poultry keeping on residential lots. And my town's animal shelter won't take livestock.

-40hz (July 19, 2008, 01:17 PM)
Who would cry fowl, unless there were Private Investigations?

-cranioscopical (July 19, 2008, 03:04 PM)

INS might. They're the ones who deal with Illegal Avians.

cranioscopical · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2008, 03:07 PM »

Who would cry fowl, unless there were Private Investigations?

INS might. They're the ones who deal with Illegal Avians.
-40hz

Now you're just egging me on. Many illegal avians are just fleeing the yolk of oppression. A sympathetic INS agent may have a gun but he won't pullet until he sees the whites of their eyes.

40hz · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2008, 07:12 PM »

Who would cry fowl, unless there were Private Investigations?

INS might. They're the ones who deal with Illegal Avians.
-40hz

Now you're just egging me on. Many illegal avians are just fleeing the yolk of oppression. A sympathetic INS agent may have a gun but he won't pullet until he sees the whites of their eyes.
-cranioscopical (July 20, 2008, 03:07 PM)

Then at least they have a Flicker of hope. Otherwise they'd have to duck.

Deozaan · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2008, 08:26 PM »

Here's my latest coding project, inspired by this thread and that old familiar Lamb Chop song:

Code: PHP [Select]

while (true)
{
 print "this is the pun that never ends. Yes it goes on and on my friend! \n";
 print "Cranioscopical starting saying it, knowing full well what it was, \n";
 print "and Shades and 40hz joined in repeating just because \n";
}

cranioscopical · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2008, 10:41 PM »

Who would cry fowl, unless there were Private Investigations?

INS might. They're the ones who deal with Illegal Avians.
-40hz

Now you're just egging me on. Many illegal avians are just fleeing the yolk of oppression. A sympathetic INS agent may have a gun but he won't pullet until he sees the whites of their eyes.
-cranioscopical (July 20, 2008, 03:07 PM)

Then at least they have a Flicker of hope. Otherwise they'd have to duck.
-40hz (July 20, 2008, 07:12 PM)

Eider that or it'd be their swan song.

Patent Law

Hi Jack!
I'm certainly learning a lot about that in this thread...

cranioscopical · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2008, 10:43 PM »

Here's my latest coding project, inspired by this thread and that old familiar Lamb Chop song:

Code: PHP [Select]
while (true)
{
print "this is the pun that never ends. Yes it goes on and on my friend! \n";
print "Cranioscopical starting saying it, knowing full well what it was, \n";
print "and Shades and 40hz joined in repeating just because \n";
}
-Deozaan (July 20, 2008, 08:26 PM)

Deozaan, that's cruel and unusual punishment... but clever

40hz · « **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2008, 12:19 AM »

Eider that or it'd be their swan song.

To cranioscopial: I'm down with that!

(Observation - I think we're gonna get into trouble if this goes on much longer.)

To Deozaan:
1. I'd suggest redoing line #1 to read: while (it never ends)
2. Add :

define procedure: TWIT
where user is (cranioscopical,40hz,Shades)
   do while (offtopic=true)
       delpost
   end
end: TWIT

BTW: Was that Lamb Chop as in Sherri Lewis?

Deozaan · « **Reply #20 on:** July 21, 2008, 01:42 PM »

BTW: Was that Lamb Chop as in Sherri Lewis?
-40hz (July 21, 2008, 12:19 AM)

The website says Mally (Mallory) Lewis & Lamb Chop.

40hz · « **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2008, 04:17 PM »

BTW: Was that Lamb Chop as in Sherri Lewis?
-40hz (July 21, 2008, 12:19 AM)

The website says Mally (Mallory) Lewis & Lamb Chop.
-Deozaan (July 21, 2008, 01:42 PM)

Ah. Her daughter! Another cute redhead. (Just like Mom.)

Here's Mom: http://www.youtube.c...&feature=related

Deozaan · « **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2008, 07:16 PM »

BTW: Was that Lamb Chop as in Sherri Lewis?
-40hz (July 21, 2008, 12:19 AM)

The website says Mally (Mallory) Lewis & Lamb Chop.
-Deozaan (July 21, 2008, 01:42 PM)

Ah. Her daughter! Another cute redhead. (Just like Mom.)

Here's Mom: http://www.youtube.c...&feature=related
-40hz (July 21, 2008, 04:17 PM)

That's right! It's been so long since I've seen it that I forgot what she looked like. I guess that Mally doing the show solves my confusion about having heard that the lady had passed away some years ago and wondering why there was still a dedicated website to the show..

40hz · « **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2008, 01:06 PM »

BTW: Was that Lamb Chop as in Sherri Lewis?
-40hz (July 21, 2008, 12:19 AM)

The website says Mally (Mallory) Lewis & Lamb Chop.
-Deozaan (July 21, 2008, 01:42 PM)

Ah. Her daughter! Another cute redhead. (Just like Mom.)

Here's Mom: http://www.youtube.c...&feature=related
-40hz (July 21, 2008, 04:17 PM)

That's right! It's been so long since I've seen it that I forgot what she looked like. I guess that Mally doing the show solves my confusion about having heard that the lady had passed away some years ago and wondering why there was still a dedicated website to the show..
-Deozaan (July 21, 2008, 07:16 PM)

Now if Diana Rigg (aka Emma Peel ) could just find a way to clone herself I'd really be all set.

40hz · « **Reply #24 on:** July 23, 2008, 11:16 AM »

Hopefully there's hope?

Just read an interesting article that offers new hope that the nonsense will someday stop.

The Death of Google's Patents

By John F. Duffy* [PDF Version (42 KB)]

The Patent and Trademark Office has now made clear that its newly developed position on patentable subject matter will invalidate many and perhaps most software patents, including pioneering patent claims to such innovators as Google, Inc.

In a series of cases including In re Nuijten, In re Comiskey and In re Bilski, the Patent and Trademark Office has argued in favor of imposing new restrictions on the scope of patentable subject matter set forth by Congress in § 101 of the Patent Act. In the most recent of these three—the currently pending en banc Bilski appeal—the Office takes the position that process inventions generally are unpatentable unless they “result in a physical transformation of an article” or are “tied to a particular machine.”[1] Perhaps, the agency has conceded, some “new, unforeseen technology” might warrant an “exception” to this formalistic test, but in the agency’s view, no such technology has yet emerged so there is no reason currently to use a more inclusive standard.[2]

Link at: http://www.patentlyo...the-death-of-go.html