Epicrealm Uses Vague Patents to sue Web Sites

An anonymous reader writes "InfoSpinner/epicRealm holds two patents that basically describe every dynamic Web site in existence and is now using them to sue companies like eHarmony. This patent seems to describe a standard web/application server setup. This one describes 'dynamically generating a Web page in response to the request, the Web page including data dynamically retrieved from one or more data sources.' If enforced, these patents could shut down almost every dynamic site on the Internet, including the USPTO."

Comments

RTFP (Read The Fine Patent)

[jevvim]

This isn't a patent on dynamic page generation, but about a dynamic server farm where a primary "web server" distributes dynamic page generate requests to one or more "page servers", and where each page server can maintain a cached version of the output of the dynamic page request.

As such, I'm not as concerned about "woe unto all dynamic web sites," but if I managed one that offloads and caches page generation work (i.e., Slashdot, LiveJournal, and probably a lot more) I'd probably be calling my lawyer this morning.

Prior Art

[BBCWatcher]

CERN had the first Web site to integrate with a backend system. According to history, back in 1990 CERN developed a Web site that provided dynamic access to a VM FIND application. Thus the world's first Web application integration project provided Web access to an IBM mainframe application. (It's also true that the world's first Web server outside Europe was installed on Stanford's IBM mainframe.)

Seriously, mainframes are so cool. And they offer patent protection, too.

Not another stupid subpoena

[Zeinfeld]

This looks like its going to be my third stupid patent subpoena this year.

I have prior art from 1992.

MIT has prior art from 1994, the open meeting.

Web Company?

[mystik]

For a company that makes a web product, they have a pretty scarce web presence:

www.epicrealm.com == 'under construction'

www.infospinner.com == non existant

the only thing Googling for either name turns up press releases ...

Blame the Lawyers

[ribblem]

I recently filed for a patent through my company. It wasn't an overly complex invention and I thought I described it very well with a one page email. By the time the lawyers where done with it that one page had turned into 45 pages of text that I hardly understand. There is something wrong with the system when the inventer has a difficult time understanding the invention that is being submitted to the patent office. After seeing how much the company lawyers obfuscated the facts I'm not surprised that the patent office sometimes lets bogus patents through.

Re:Suing eHarmony?

[Facekhan]

Is that why they refused to match me? I thought it was because I was weird. It actually happened I will post the text I got after completing the test.

eHarmony is based upon a complex matching system developed through extensive testing of married individuals. One of the requirements for it to work successfully is for participants to fall into our rigorously defined profiles. If we aren't able to match a user well using these profiles, the most considerate approach is to inform them early in the process.

We are so convinced of the importance of creating compatible matches to help people establish and enjoy happy, lasting relationships that we choose not to provide service rather than risk an uncertain match.

Unfortunately, we are not able to make our profiles work for you. Our matching system is not suitable for about 20% of potential users, so 1 in 5 people simply would not benefit from our service. We hope that you understand that we regret our inability to provide service for you at this time.

You can still receive your free personality profile by clicking here.