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More patent insanity: A domain name registration patent
By Gearhead, NetworkWorld.com, 06/02/05
U.S. Patent No. 6,901,436 granted May 31, 2005 to Eric Schneider is titled "Method, product, and apparatus for determining the availability of similar identifiers and registering these identifiers across multiple naming systems" -- in other words, it is an algorithm for registering a name across multiple name registrars.
If there was ever any doubt about it we are in patent hell!
According to Schneider's press release:
The increase in the number of separate registerable naming systems having identifiers such as domain names, internationalized or multilingual domain names, fictitious domain names including top level domain aliases, trademarks, custom telephone numbers, vanity license plates, Internet keywords, screen names, usernames, reseller/affiliate names, and so forth poses a growing problem for businesses and individuals with regard to managing their brand identities. The '436 patent changes this by specifying tools to assist users with their brand identity by enabling the simultaneous registration of similar identifiers across two or more separate naming systems through a single interface.
The press release concludes:
We are currently pursuing licensing opportunities and all other available legal remedies regarding the patent portfolio ... The issuance of [the patent] is an occasion for name registration providers to learn more about how this technology can help their business and their customers."
What really gets us wound is that this is nothing more than an algorithm that generalizes the registration process and not, per se, a technology! But you know how the patent will be used ... as a way of extracting money from companies using similar processes. Actually, the word "extracting" might be better replaced by "extorting".
If you are interested in the issues of patent reform check out:
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Comments
But getting a pattent does not insure you can make money with it!
Posted by: Babs on June 6, 2005 12:06 PM
