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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."
For the love of michael, just make a legal section. This is not about our rights. Not yours, not mine, just Google's. Sheesh.
Sure. Everything gets patented these days. Do we really need a separate story every time someone digs up something like this?
...who cares?
Eventually, as in every other case like this, there will be a lawsuit.
One side will win, the other won't. In either case, the loser will just change some small piece of the technology, and it will no longer infringe, if it even did in the first place.
The lawyers will get rich.
None of us will be affected in the slightest.
Cynical? Maybe. But before moderating, ask yourself if I'll end up being right.
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Perhaps Google should now come out against patents in Europe.
Afterall their patents on search technology are worthless, anyone could use Pagerank and Google could not show they had used it -> failed attempt to protect invention.
Their newer search technology (they changed the algo last year), hasn't been disclosed in patent form and so the SEOs & competitors don't know how it works and MS couldn't copy it -> successful defence of invention.
They don't hold enough patents to join the "big company patent exchange club".
At this point it doesn't matter if it is a breach of the NDA. As soon as Google starts making money form it, Microsoft will send them a take down and sue them for "lost revenues".
In Microsoft vs. the DoJ Microsoft won (even though it doesn't say that in the court documents)
In Microsoft vs. Google who will win?
"..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."
...
Interesting that anti-spyware has shown fresh installs of MS windows OS has spyware that tracks online use
Where are our privacy laws and fair competition laws?
Or do we really know who has bought them away from us?
The only way for this to be faired up is to allow any and everyone who wants to use such a thing, to be able to. Just like the solution to the "trillion dollar bet">/a> was faired up, via exposure and wide scope use.
Or in other words: nobody gets an unfair (anti-competition) advantage in marketing via patenting some automated privacy invading information collecting marketing process.
Most software is NOT patentable as shown by abstraction physics", and that certainly includes this.
from a search engine to the worlds largest e-commerce engine.
When I search for, for instance, HP Laserjet schematics, I get 40 pages of assholes peddling toner cartridges and refill kits.
That's NOT what I asked for, I want to find schematics that I can view. I don't want to buy a frigging CDROM with schematics on ebay, or laddersearch or toner carts or any of the other nonsense that google throws at me.
God I despise google. It has become the most useless of all search engines but the most profitable of all investments for online peddlers..
Things like this are the last things that concern me about Google. I'm more interested in the fact they have an ex-NSA guy with security clearance working there, and freely state in all their privacy policies that they will happily give in to any governmental requests to turn over user data. This includes your Gmail (which they freely state might remain indefinitely on their systems, even after deletion, and get searched at any time), your search terms and habits (the infamous Google cookie that logs your IP and is set to expire in 2038), and so on.
I know it sounds paranoid, but considering Google's insane amount of traffic, and the fact the majority of their traffic comes from outside the US, coupled with their employee ties with the government and their past privacy issues, I've tended to stop using Google so much. Also, their search results have really begun to suck since 2003. Using Google to find anything is a frustrating experience.
Good and bad companies alike will be forced to dance this silly legal jig.
The only real voice we have in this battle is our wallets. I'm sending my spare dimes where they can best help fight this stuff.
Don't hate the players - fix the game.
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