IBM Applies for Password Manager Patent

An anonymous reader writes "As of August 21, IBM has applied for a patent on "A convenient and secure system and method for access to any number of password-protected computer applications, web sites and forms without adding to the user cognitive load and without circumventing the inherent security of such password-protection schemes. An existing password field on a device display is overlaid with password wallet pop-up field which allows a wallet "master" key to unlock the wallet. An application-specific and/or user-specific password is automatically retrieved from the wallet and entered into the password field with no other user action required." This isn't much different from Mozilla's "Master Password"."

Comments

Prior art

[Motherfucking Shit]

This isn't much different from Mozilla's "Master Password".

Or from Apple's "Keychain." Or even from Gator, for that matter...

Novell

[jrwillis]

This is also seen in Novell's "Secure Sign-on".

Yet Another Uninformed Patent Story

[servoled]

Please try to remember that the abstract of a patent doesn't mean a single thing legally. It is just a short summary of the invention, nothing more. The claims are the only part of the patent that has any legal power, and since the poster failed to actually link to the patent or give us the patent number it is hard to say what this patent would cover.

Also try to remember that a patent is for a specific implemenation of an invention and does not cover the general idea of the invention itself. If this were granted it would be possible to come up with your own implementation for password management and not be infringing on the patent.

Re:Who do we like today?

[bug-eyed monster]

I would say...

SCO Story... BOO SCO and the American judicial system for allowing to let this farce go on for so long

Patent Story... BOO USPTO for allowing American corporations to behave like this.

Generally.. Boo the American government for giving corporations so much power.