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USPTO Rejects SBC Browser Patent

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the seen-coming dept.

theodp writes "Remember that dicey 1996 SBC Structured Document Browser patent that Slashdot readers immediately called BS on back in 2003? Two-and-a-half years later, a USPTO Director-ordered reexam reached the same conclusion, and a final rejection was quietly issued last month."

13 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. What About the Others? by TPIRman · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's great news, but what about the other patents included in that same re-examination order? What's the status of "LABEL FOR SPOOLED WIRE PRODUCTS"? Will I finally be able to market my "METHOD TO IMPROVE PERI-ANAL HYGIENE AFTER A BOWEL MOVEMENT" without fear of legal reprisal? We need to know!

    1. Re:What About the Others? by yiantsbro · · Score: 2, Funny

      "...Seriously, having kids and being forced to use baby wipes..."

      Look, Mr. Jackson, I understood that you were going to lay low and play it safe for a bit.

  2. 7 Years? by The_Mystic_For_Real · · Score: 5, Funny
    Remember that dicey 1996 SBC Structured Document Browser patent that Slashdot readers immediately called BS on back in 2003

    You've been examining patents too long if you consider reacting in 2003 to an action in 1996 immediate. Or are you a congressman?

    --

    _____

    Thank you.

    1. Re:7 Years? by PakProtector · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nope. Historian.

      We have a very... well, how shall I put this?

      We have a good perspective of time.

      --

      Edward@Tomato - /home/Edward/ man woman
      man: no entry for woman in the manual.
      "Qua!?"

  3. Peri-Anal Hygiene and Patents by debilo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I followed the links provided in the submission to this page containing a list of other reexaminations, where I found this gem:

    6,520,942 Reexam. C.N. 90/006,758, Ordered Date: Sept. 24, 2003, Cl. 604/290,
    Title: METHOD TO IMPROVE PERI-ANAL HYGIENE AFTER A BOWEL MOVEMENT

    How fitting.

  4. Re:And here's the link.. by TPIRman · · Score: 4, Funny

    From the patent filing:

    "BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    There are no drawings provided."

    Thank God for small favors.

  5. Re:Quietly? by FidelCatsro · · Score: 4, Funny

    I speculate that slashdot is also not a Rumour site.
    After all a Rumour is just an unfounded statement of fact , that hasn't been checked thoroughly by someone .We all know that slashdot has many many editors who never make msitakes like putting out unfounded or repeated storys..

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  6. Old, old, old... by Matilda+the+Hun · · Score: 3, Funny

    So the original patent was 1996, the first talk about it was 2003, and it was rejected a month ago? This is almost as bad as that glass in space article.

    Tonight in the news: Computer programmers have stopped producing software for the Apple ][e. Film at 11.

    --
    Tluin natha Linux xxizzuss uriu olt bwael mon'tun.
  7. My lameness by kennygraham · · Score: 3, Funny
    1. Patent the web
    2. Improve anal hygine
    3. ???
    4. Profit!

    Time to worry about SBC's CEO?

  8. which one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Method to improve peri-anal hygiene after a bowel movement"

    In Soviet Russia, bowels move you!
    In Korea, only old people monitor peri-anal hygeine
    I, for one, welcome our new peri-anal hygenic overlords
    Yes, but can it run Linux?
    But will it be released before DNF?
    You insensitive clod, my peri-anal region is already clean!

    Nah, I'll stick with this...

    Wow, imagine a beowulf cluster of bowel movements!

    1. Re:which one... by krautcanman · · Score: 2, Funny

      LOL. I love it! That's freakin' halarious!

    2. Re:which one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Netcraft confirms it: Slashdot memes are dying.

  9. Patent Definitely Busted! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Now that's a(nother) show I could enjoy seeing on Discovery; "PatentBusters."