Paul Allen sues apple, google and so on

[peteyt]

Is it just me or is everyone trying to sue everyone at the moment for apparent patent infrigement. Paul Allen, a key person behind Microsoft is suing a large number of technologies his company apparently designed and patented back in the 90s.

"The technology behind one patent allows a site to offer suggestions to consumers for items related to what they're currently viewing, or related to online activities of others in the case of social-networking sites"

I'm no expert but some of the technologies he apparently created have been used for years now, so why the wait?


Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703294904575385241453119382.html#i xzz0xrG7CLsp



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703294904575385241453119382.html

[Oleh]

to be honest patenting social networking or suggestions is just plain and utter stupid, patents should be scrapped all together

[HotelUser]

A familiar tune in the technology industry patent infringement accusations are. You never hear much about Paul Allen anymore.

[Recursion]

Heh, that's one thing the UK have down, our freakin' Patent system is complete rubbish like the US'!

It'll probably get chucked out, he's been sitting on it for 10 years and done nothing to protect his IP.

[Apolva]

Automated suggestions? Not exactly a ground breaking idea...

All patents do is spoil creativity and get in the way.