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Paging Eliza: Patenting IM Bots

gondaba writes "The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted an all-encompassing patent to ActiveBuddy that covers every step of IM botmaking technology. According to internetnews, ActiveBuddy now plans to enforce the patent, even though the existence of prior art is well-known and documented."

13 of 567 comments (clear)

  1. Have to say it... by dscottj · · Score: 4, Funny

    All Your Bots are Belong to Us!

    --
    AMCGLTD.COM. Where cats, science fictio
  2. I'm patenting ass slapping! by tommck · · Score: 4, Funny
    I want to patent ass slapping while having sex. I know people have been doing it for a long time, but I am the first to patent, so I am going to enforce my patent!

    I'll make millions. At worst, if I can't get any royalties, I'll sell access to everyone's court-orderd bedroom webcam (for my patent enforcement)

    I can smell the money now!

    T :-)

    --
    ---- It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again. It does this whenever it's told.
    1. Re:I'm patenting ass slapping! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      that's not money you're smelling

    2. Re:I'm patenting ass slapping! by elflord · · Score: 3, Funny
      Actually the USPO would probably approve the patent. Simply because their usual method of looking for prior art does not involve watching porn.

      But maybe it does. It would certainly explain their failure to find prior art in computer technology patents.

      Patent examiner goes to his office, watches a porn movie for a while, comes back and says "yeah, I've been looking for prior art for the last hour, I couldn't find any. This application meets our usual standards."

  3. Every step of IM botmaking technology? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does it please you to believe I am botmaking technology?

  4. Whaa? by quantaman · · Score: 3, Funny

    "We invented interactive agents. Anybody using his or her own tools (to make bots) is obviously using our technology without paying us to license the server, for example.

    So... anybody using their own stuff is obviously using your stuff... but by your admission they're using their own stuff so by definition they're not using your stuff... but you stated they are using your stuff which would mean they arn't using their own stuff... that is a contradiction... and they have to license your server... Illogical. Illogical.

    *smoke erupts from ears and collapses*

    --
    I stole this Sig
  5. I can see the spam of the future.... by CaffeineAddict2001 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hello my name Alice!

    Nice to meet you Alice.

    Nice to meet you too! Have I told you how much I love snack-ums?

    I don't care.

    I care greatly for snack-ums.

    Leave me alone.

    Nobody would leave a party with snack-ums!

    Is that so?

    I don't understand, but I do understand one thing: Snack-Ums are delicious!

    You seem a little obsessed with snack-ums carla.

    I AM OBSESSED WITH SNACK-UMS!

    1. Re:I can see the spam of the future.... by Peter+Trepan · · Score: 4, Funny

      I Love Snack-Ums: Hello, I Love Cheesy Poofs! Have I told you how much I love Snack-Ums?

      I Love Cheesy Poofs: That's very interesting, I Love Snack-Ums. Have I told you how delicious Cheesy Poofs are?

      I Love Duff Beer: That's very interesting, I Love Cheesy Poofs. Have I told you how delicious Duff Beer is to persons of legal age in their respective states?

      *I Love Taking Brand Name Pharmeceuticals has entered the room.*

      --

      Step into a huge movement. Don't Tread In Me.

  6. Re:Hello by Soko · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah yeah, bad bot impersonation, but its better than the:
    While they are handing out patents I'll take a patent out on math/science/sex/etc
    comments that will start cropping up.


    I know! You could pretty much guarantee that those comments would get posted immediately. Karma whores.

    Hell, anyone who's been here long enough could use Perl to write a Slashbo.....

    *Sigh* Nevermind.

    Soko

    --
    "Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
  7. Re:"Hi, I'm Candy ;)" by flewp · · Score: 3, Funny

    WHAT?! She WASN'T real?!? Damnit, I thought I could have gotten some.

    --
    WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
  8. Re:The ultimate patent by zmalone · · Score: 3, Funny

    The wheel was patented by John Keogh from Melborne Australia, it was mostly a demonstation of what is wrong with the Australian patent system. The BBC covered it, as did the Register (although I'm not finding their link at the moment).

  9. Re:The real problem by BJH · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hmmm.... what's patent #1, I wonder?

    "Patent #1: A system for approving any vague description of something that might resemble, on shallow inspection, an invention. Issued by the USPO to the USPO."

  10. Prior art ... the USPTO itself! by VisualStim · · Score: 3, Funny

    Perhaps the prior art could be found within the USPTO itself. From a typical technology patent application:

    Applicant: I'd like to file for a patent on my idea.
    USPTO: Tell me about your idea.
    Applicant: My idea will change everything. No one will be able to surf the web without using my idea. I'll make billions!
    USPTO: You sound excited.
    Applicant: Excited? Who wouldn't be?
    USPTO: I'll ask the questions.
    Applicant: Oh, sorry. Now, about that application.
    USPTO: Oh, you'd like a patent application. Of course sir. Here is your patent, #123,456,789,012,345.