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| Microsoft Lays Claim To Patent On 'Fans'
| from the patent-trolls-are-a-fan-of-this dept.
| posted by Soulskill on Friday January 07, @16:38 (Facebook)
| https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/01/07/2130218/Microsoft-Lays-Claim-To-Patent-On-Fans?from=newsletter
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theodp writes "A USPTO filing made public Thursday reveals that
[0]Microsoft is seeking a patent for something it calls 'One-Way Public
Relationships' in social networks and other online properties,
lawyer-speak for what's more commonly known as being a 'fan' of something
online. It's unclear whether it's a goof on Apple, but Microsoft
curiously used the example of [1]a U2 fan named Steve to explain its
'invention' to the USPTO. [2]Purported patent reformer Microsoft, which
has called for the US to change from a first-to-invent patent system to a
first-to-file system, filed the patent application in July 2009.
Microsoft is a partner with and investor in Facebook, which first
established its fan pages back in November 2007."
Discuss this story at:
https://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/01/07/2130218/Microsoft-Lays-Claim-To-Patent-On-Fans?from=newsletter#commentlisting
Links:
0. http://techflash.com/seattle/2011/01/microsoft-applies-for-patent-on-being.html
1. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-life-and-awesomeness-of-steve-jobs-2009-6#steve-and-bono-17
2. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2005/mar05/03-10patentreform.mspx
Astonishingly I hadn't read this,
"Purported patent reformer Microsoft, which
has called for the US to change from a first-to-invent patent system to a
first-to-file system, filed the patent application in July 2009."
Wow, so today someone discovers it, someone else files it, and the one who discovered it wont be able to use it himself!!
Why will he share his knowledge in such a case?
Vipul A.M.
+91-8149-204995