The ludicracy that is software patents
23 02 2006Its no secret that the US patenting system is somewhat flawed but this one is just beyond me. Neil Balthaser, apparently a former VP of Flash Strategy at Macromedia (”Et tu, Brute”), has been granted a patent covering design and creation of rich-media on the web.
He was quoted as saying: “The patent covers all rich-media technology implementations including Flash, Flex, Java, AJAX and XAML and all device footprints which access rich-media Internet applications including desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles … Balthaser will be able to provide licenses for almost any rich-media Internet application across a broad range of devices and networks”
How this patent could even be considered is baffling, there is a huge amount of prior art available . Let’s just hope they see sense and nullify this one as soon as possible.
http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-6042085.html
I’d better find out if its too late to patent double clicking… 
I agree, these patents are getting out of control. As a small ISV (independent software vendor), I’d rather see stronger controls for the copyright of software rather than patent protection.
If I remember well, double-clicking has been patented a few years ago.
Well, how will it be written in the Encyclopedia Galactica from 2200? “The guys from the US patent office were among first ones against the wall when the revolution finally came.” This is so ridiculous it really hurts. This system is severely flawed.
If I’m not mistake, double-clicking was patented a long time ago. So were the hyperlinks …
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,727,830.WKU.&OS=PN/6,727,830&RS=PN/6,727,830