Slashdot Mirror
Is Google AutoLink Patent-Pending By Microsoft?
theodp writes "While Google pooh-poohed any comparison of its controversial AutoLink feature to Microsoft's SmartTag technology, Google's generation of dynamic links to maps and use of ISBN numbers to trigger links to booksellers cover the same territory as Microsoft's 2000 patent application for Providing electronic commerce actions based on semantically labeled strings, whose sole inventor - Jeff Reynar - was the lead SmartTag Program Manager while at MS and is reportedly now a Google Product Manager who's being credited as AutoLink's creator. Reynar's patent applications that have been assigned to Microsoft, including one for Smart Links and Tags, describe a world of 'recognizer' plug-ins that automatically look at every document a user creates, receives or views, transmitting messages to 'action' plug-ins - and even to the plug-ins' authors - that can be used to decide what info you'll be presented with, what options you'll be given, what price you'll pay for goods, and even who you'll be permitted to buy from."
wonder how many google posts we can get in a year...
But, when I see this, I have this feeling of overlords or something.
Wierd.
Don't you mean "We better learn how to get rid of it"?
Linux is not Windows
Google good.
Microsoft bad.
unless...
(anti-MS paranoid mode ON)
1) get ex employee into a competing company (as a "mole")
2) the employee, as previously instructed, comes up with an idea the ex-employer has already patented
3) wait until idea is deployed
4) sue
5) (no ???)
6) profit!!!
BTW I don't like smart tags, Google's or anyone else's.
---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
Yes.
I love it when Slashdot uses headlines that can be answered in a single word. Makes commenting so much easier.
Dear:
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[X] Lamer
[_] Flamer
[_] Pervert
[_] Sexist
[X] Spammer
[_] Racist
[X] Dumbass
[X] Waste of Life
[X] Other: Pathetic Moron
You are being flamed because:
[X] You obviously don't know anything about the topic at hand.
[X] You started a pointless thread.
[_] You bumped a pointless thread.
[X] Your post contained nothing but crap.
[_] You can't spell more than 3 words right.
[X] Your awful markup made the post unreadable.
[_] You made a useless assumption.
[_] You posted IN ALL CAPS FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
[_] You tYpEd SoMeThInG lAmE lIkE tHiS.
[_] You don't know how to use the search feature
[X] You say you're "1337".
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As punishment, you must:
[X] Refrain from posting until you have a vague idea of what you're doing.
[X] Stab yourself in the eye with a pen.
[_] Give up your internet account.
[X] Eat paint chips for the next 6 months.
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[_] Jump into a bathtub with a toaster.
[X] Fuck yourself in the ass with a cactus
[X] Attach a car battery to your scrotum
Don't mod me, bro'!!!!
I think that would land heavily on the user. AutoLink (as I understand it) is an optional function of the toolbar that must be explicitly enabled by the user.
As for copyright violations, I seriously doubt it. That would be like filing suit against me for making a mandatory minimum text size in my browser. Or perhaps even like me looking at a book through sunglasses. I haven't changed the content and republished it, I've just modified the way I see the original work.
An interesting idea though.
"For the love of michael, just make a legal section. This is not about our rights. Not yours, not mine, just Google's. Sheesh."
And another thing, it really pisses me off that the show was called 'Deep Space Nine' when they went an entire season where they weren't on the station and it was called Terak Nor. For the love of michael, they should have called it Star Trek: Terak Nor for that season!! Of course, after every episode, I was on the internet registerring my complaint throughout the world!
"Derp de derp."
Better come lock me up! I know how things work and how to program; I'm a dangerous fellow!
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.