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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.

4 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Um ... by Rogerborg · · Score: 1, Redundant
    • The patent abstract only seems to imply that this will cover remote recovery/maintence of PC's.

    Read to the end:

    • Those skilled in the art may make numerous modifications and departures from the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. For example [...]the software downloaded may be intended to perform tasks such as database management, word processing, spread sheet, games, or other tasks that are not specified herein.
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  2. Re:Um ... by S5o · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Exactly how many times are you planning on pasting that quote? Moderators: This is exactly what "-1, Redundant" is for.

  3. Re:Abstract by Rogerborg · · Score: 2, Redundant

    The sting in the tail:

    • Those skilled in the art may make numerous modifications and departures from the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. For example[...] the software downloaded may be intended to perform tasks such as database management, word processing, spread sheet, games, or other tasks that are not specified herein.
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  4. Abstract by peterdaly · · Score: 3, Redundant

    From the Patent:

    Abstract

    A system, method, and computer program product for delivery and automatic execution of security, management, or optimization software over an Internet connection to a user computer responsive to a user request entered via a web browser on the user computer. 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. User identifiers and passwords enabling the downloads may be provided on a per-download basis or on a subscription basis.

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