Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Best Approach To Keeping a Virtual World Protocol Free to All?

Posted by timothy on from the generous-coders- dept.

arkowitz writes "I invented a protocol called CICP for interacting with virtual worlds, and filed a provisional patent application on it March 20 of last year. I have since declared the protocol open and public, and contributed an implementation of it to the Sun Wonderland project, which is GPL; and made public the LSL code and accompanying Java servlet for the Second Life implementation of the protocol. I've been collaborating with a fellow in Finland named Tommi S. E. Laukkanen on a new protocol called MXP: Metaverse Exchange Protocol (here's a full description at cybertechnews.com). MXP is and will always be public domain; we intend it to enable an open and ubiquitous metaverse. My question is this: is there any reason to complete the patent app for CICP, which could potentially cover MXP as well, and release it to the public domain? The full app is due by March 20 and the legal work would probably cost my company $10k. Would finishing the patent protect the open and public protocols from patent trolls, or would it be a waste of money? Also, what kind of document would I need to make official the public-domaining of the app?"

4 of 163 comments (clear)

  1. Can it do this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    If your thing allows me to put the swimsuits of Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball on the female characters of Xbox360 games, I'd buy it.

  2. This is a hard question for me by Gizzmonic · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I like, totally don't even know what a Virtual World Protocol is? Is that like AOL? *giggle*

    Hey, will you like drive me to the mall? I'm supposed to be meeting Bobby there and we're so totally gonna make out! Thanks, you are like so cool. I'm so glad we're friends and you like fix my computer all the time. Hey, why do you look so sad?

      Is it because of that Virtual World Protocol thingie? Maybe you can get a new one at Gamestop at the mall! Also, like, I'm totally gonna get my bellybutton pierced at Claire's! Oh my God, you know my mom's gonna freak, but I totally don't care!

    --
    (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
  3. Re:anal sex by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    It is tight though. Good for when the gf is on the rag. I can hardly tell the difference (except for the smell of ass)!

  4. Wanna hear something cool? by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Im using a Wiimote+nunchuck as a security system. It's kinda cool, really.

    I pair the wiimote to the computer. Then, I pair some bluetooth headset to the computer. Then I make a script that watches the acceleration on the wiimote (easy to do), and if the acceleration changes by more than 3 on a scale from 00-ff, send sound to BT headset. I can also make it scream via local speakers, or fire emails or whatever.

    The cool thing, is when I set it up, I just wrap the cord around the machine and plate the wiimote+nunchuck on the keyboard and over the trackpad.

    Good luck touching that laptop without making it scream.

    --