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IBM Patents Web Page Templates

Posted by timothy on from the patent-office-crack dept.

jalefkowit writes: "More follies from the US Patent & Trademark Office ... now IBM has been awarded US Patent #6,304,886 for software that automatically "generates [a] customized Web site without the Web site creator writing any HTML or other programming code", based on "a plurality of pre-stored templates, comprising HTML formatting code, text, fields, and formulas" that are then customized through the process of asking the user a few questions. In other words, they've patented the ubiquitous wizards found in FrontPage and other newbie-oriented HTML editors. This was submitted to the USPTO on June 19, 1998 -- surely someone out there knows of prior art for this?"

4 of 420 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sorry IBM by drsoran · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Well I guess that's too bad for you. IBM had the bright idea to patent it. ;-) I realize there's probably going to be prior art and it'll be invalidated, but IMHO, you snooze you lose. People shouldn't take things they do so lightly. If you do something that you consider new and innovative, rush out and patent the idea. It just may make you a million dollars some day.

  2. Hey IBM! by Sanity · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Welcome back to the shitlist!

  3. Re:Simple... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Err... don't bitch about the murderers committing murder - THEY ARE INTENDED TO DO THAT. Don't bitch when a rapist attacks your sister - THEY DON'T CARE. Instead, bitch about the stupid laws which allow and encourage them to do this and the juries who keep them in business.

    Basically, you wish to excuse the perpetrator of great wrongs from rebuke simply because they're abusing the system? That all the blame lies on the designers of that system? I'd say the blame lies least on the government, more on the citizens which have allowed their government to run amok, and most on the corporations which abuse the citizenry's ignorance. To dismiss their heinous actions as being their "nature" is the height of stupidity. I agree, though, that the problem is aggravated by our government. The people have lost control of their representation because their wallets weren't big enough, and their convictions too weak.

  4. In Summary: by FFFish · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Fuck IBM.

    And, hell, while at it, fuck the patent office with a broomstick.

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