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IBM Wants Patent For Lotus Notes-Free Meetings

Posted by timothy on from the taketh-away-with-the-other dept.

theodp writes "Over at IBM, the Lotus Notes team has 'invented' preventing the use of their own product during meetings. Self-described patent reformer Big Blue has asked the USPTO for a patent covering Suppressing De-Focusing Activities During Selective Scheduled Meetings by forcing meeting attendees to 'submit to the computing system suspension requirements.' What's next — a patent for Verizon for blocking cellphone usage during movies?"

1 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Grrrrr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    DON'T. GIVE THEM. IDEAS.

    It's not them you need to worry about...

    In other news, Microsoft has patented the process of buying products from companies that aren't Microsoft. So now, if you buy a Microsoft product you will pay them some money, and if you buy someone else's product you will still have to pay them some money because of their patent. Industry analysts say they haven't noticed any difference from the status quo.