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MS Seeks To Patent Education-Feedback Software

Posted by timothy on from the patent-system-needs-a-reboot dept.

theodp writes "The USPTO disclosed Thursday that Microsoft is seeking an early childhood education-related patent for Providing instructional feedback to a user, which the software giant says covers the use of computers to teach little tykes to form the letter 'b', make a 'ch' sound, and divide 321 by 17. Let's hope LeapPad-toting preschoolers are indemnified against Microsoft lawsuits." "Unstructured" is the key word in this patent, which (like most) is written in language that does more to obscure than illuminate. Just how structured was Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing? How about GCompris?

6 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Good move! by EEBaum · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I hope they get the patent and litigate heavily. Then perhaps parents will spend time with their children, rather than plopping them in front of various boxes that they believe will do the work for them.

    If only...

    --
    -- I prefer the term "karma escort."
  2. Sleazy, dispicable, under-handed, and cheap... by eeg3 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But, no reason for them to stop if they can get away with it and make money off of it.

    Write your congressman and plead for reform.

  3. Another one by FiReaNGeL · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Another stupid software patent. Its an everexpanding mess which shouldn't have existed in the first place... can you really qualify software as an 'innovative invention'? Should it be protected for 20 (or whatever) years so no one can duplicate your code?

    In my opinion, it should be protected like books (and such) by copyright law only. If I can recreate the same effect without seeing your code, I can't see how your patented software is innovative. 'Normal' inventions are a different story altogether; they can be disassembled, reverse engineered, etc. (Ok, Java code too).

    --
    Eureka Science News - automatically updated
  4. No Way by pbooktebo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can't believe that this could possibly withstand any attack. Education literature is filled with feedback technologies for learning, from B.F. Skinner's "Technology of Teaching" to attempts to teach vocalists with biofeedback.

    I know little about patent law, but as an educator, the world is filled with many prior attempts (some very successful).

    Anyhow...

  5. Yawn... by nwbvt · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Another evil MS patent story.

    Wake me up when one of these is upheld in court. That will be news. The patent office still hasn't even approved this one (and with its current rate, it will likely take a few years before it is).

    I can apply for a patent for starting a fire with two sticks. Its even possible the patent office will rubber stamp it a few years later. But it is meaningless because there is no way a judge would accept it.

    --
    Mathematics is made of 50 percent formulas, 50 percent proofs, and 50 percent imagination.
  6. Re:Useful comments please. by pjt33 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's plenty of opinion. As the summary points out, the important word is "unstructured". Unless it has a technical meaning in the context of patents, it will surely require interpretation by the courts eventually, because anyone sued for infringement will be able to make a good case that all computer IO is structured.