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Software Installation/Update via Internet Patented

Posted by timothy on from the 35-claims dept.

RKBA writes "My wife just handed me an article from the Wednesday, October 22, 2003 issue of the Wall Street Journal about a tiny Austin, TX company called Bluecurrent that has been awarded patent No. 6,636,857 covering the Internet installation of any software or settings on new computers. The patent was granted by the USPTO on October 21, 2003. It will be interesting to see if it can be enforced. I think it's time for someone to file a patent on Earth, Fire, and Water. ;-)"

12 of 519 comments (clear)

  1. It's official by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's official. There is no God, the madness will never end. Kill me now.

    1. Re:It's official by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      > It's official. There is no God, the madness will never end. Kill me now.

      well, we're gonna have a hard time /.ing you if you don't give us your IP...

  2. It Gets Worse by John_McKee · · Score: 5, Informative

    According to the WSJ article, They have already found a law firm willing to pursue the claim for a contingency fee.

    "Mr. Thomas said Bluecurrent intends to seek royalties of $10 to $25 for each time a new computer has software or other settings updated over the Web."

    1. Re:It Gets Worse by BenFranske · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Sounds like trouble for users of Micro$oft's Windows Update. Or for the *NIX users of apt-get and similar utilities. Of course, coming up with prior art should be no problem and the rich Micro$oft will fight this for you.

    2. Re:It Gets Worse by CrowScape · · Score: 5, Funny

      If they can enforce it they'll make a mint from all those spam/pr0n sites that try to change your homepage settings when you accidentally visit them.

      --
      common sense: noun
      What those who are ignorant of the subject matter think; usually wrong.
    3. Re:It Gets Worse by jeffkjo1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh yea, accidentally, I bet.

    4. Re:It Gets Worse by the_2nd_coming · · Score: 5, Insightful

      false. prior art means that the idea has been in common use for a while.

      Apt has been around for a long time. since the mid 90's

      this is mot going to be enforceable. I doubt the Patent officer looked farther than his windows machine.

      --



      I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
  3. Wind? by toeofdestiny · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think it's time for someone to file a patent on Earth, Fire, and Water. ;-)

    Wind is already patented?

  4. RTFA! by bigHairyDog · · Score: 5, Informative

    NO! This is *not* a patent "covering the Internet installation of any software or settings on new computers".

    This is a patent covering backing up preferences on a remote server so that someone can safely upgrade their OS or move computers.

    To recap:

    1. We are not all going to die
    2. It's all going to be OK
    3. Profit!

    I wish /.ers would check their facts before screaming how the sky is going to fall on our heads every time the USPTO grants a patent.


    --

    foo mane padme hum

    1. Re:RTFA! by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ah yes, patenting ftp and email to store your own files is sooooooooo much better.

      KFG

  5. Obvious? by redgopher · · Score: 5, Funny
    I think it's time for someone to file a patent on Earth, Fire, and Water


    With your powers combined, I am Captain Patent!!

    --
    Insert clever one liner here.
  6. Parent correct -- read the abstract! by jhujoe · · Score: 5, Informative
    Abstract The method and system of the present invention provides an improved technique for replacing, implementing and managing computer-related assets. A technician accesses the World Wide Web through a user's computer. The information resident on the computer, including information regarding the computer and the user's preferences, are downloaded to a remote storage medium through the World Wide Web. Once downloaded, all information may be removed from the user's computer. Subsequently, the technician accesses another computer such as, for example, a new computer that has been assigned to the same user. The technician accesses the World Wide Web through the new computer and downloads the information previously stored on the remote storage medium. This information can then be used to install the user's prior applications, settings and preferences on the new computer.
    As the parent noted, as would anybody who actually took the time to read the patent abstract (which apparently does NOT the original poster), this patent is for using the web as a place to migrate settings and data from one computer to another.

    Now, in my opinion, the actual patent is also ridiculous and way too broad in scope, but not nearly as bad as the picture painted by /.