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McAfee Patents ASP Business Model

Posted by michael on from the your-patent-will-come-to-$4.65,-please-drive-through dept.

Rob Kischuk writes: "According to an article at InfoWorld, McAfee.com has been granted a patent on its variety of "software as a service". No specifics on the patent, but the CEO's statement, "You either work with us, or you work around this patent", seems to indicate that more than a couple of ASPs could be affected." kerubi gets a cookie for sending in a link to the patent in question, or read McAfee's press release.

3 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. ### JAVA anyone???? ### by Myrv · · Score: 4, Interesting


    A system, method, and computer program product for delivery and automatic execution of ... over an Internet connection to a user computer responsive to a user request entered via a web browser on the user computer.

    Don't know about you but this sure sounds like java applets to me and I could have sworn somebody already held the patent for that ;)

  2. Hmm. by emf · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "In a preferred embodiment, the user directs the Internet browser to a Internet clinical services provider web site computer and logs in to the site using an identifier and a secure password and optionally makes a selection of the type of servicing desired, wherein an automatically-executing software package encapsulated within a markup language communication unit deliverable across the Internet is delivered, to the user computer, the automatically-executing software package being adapted to perform security, management, or optimization functions on the user computer."

    Isn't that what Microsoft's Windows update does ? Or better said, isn't that what Microsoft's Windows update tries to do?

    1. Re:Hmm. by justin_w_hall · · Score: 5, Interesting
      You know.. maybe this is what needs to happen for the government to realize the idiocy of the patent system:

      • McAfee files a blatantly obvious patent.
      • The patent happens to cover an idea that Microsoft is about to base their entire software strategy on (web services).
      • Light bulb goes on over a Microsoft VP's head - 'hey we should do something to stop this'.
      • Microsoft's legal muscle fires off multiple letters to Washington.
      • Light bulb goes on over Washington's head (or is forced there by Microsoft's legal types - 'maybe this patent law does suck.'
      • Change ensues.

      Who knows? Maybe having the 800-pound gorilla fight some battles for you isn't all bad..
      --

      ---
      "how can the same street intersect with itself? i must be at the nexus of the universe!" - cosmo kramer