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IBM Wants Patent For Regex SSN Validation

Posted by timothy on from the noteworthy-inventions dept.

theodp writes "What do you get when you combine IBM contributors with the Dojo Foundation? A patent for Real-Time Validation of Text Input Fields Using Regular Expression Evaluation During Text Entry, assuming the newly-disclosed Big Blue patent application passes muster with the USPTO. IBM explains that the invention of four IBMers addresses a 'persistent problem that plagues Web form fields' — e.g., 'a social security number can be entered with or without dashes.' A non-legalese description of IBM's patent-pending invention can be found in The Official Dojo Documentation. While IBM has formed a Strategic Partnership With the Dojo Foundation which may protect one from a patent infringement lawsuit over validating phone numbers, concerns have been voiced over an exception clause in IBM's open source pledge."

3 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Prior Art so Prior It Hurts by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'm in the process of applying for a software patent myself (I know, summon the chorus of boos; but having it could be the difference between being able to raise VC and not being able to raise VC for my starting business; loans, too, are often secured against your IP).

    So if your VCs wanted you to torture puppies to death before they'd give you money, would the "chorus of boos" have any effect on your actions?

    There are many ways to get money. Some of them are right, and some of them are wrong. People with consciences know there's a difference.

    --
    The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
  2. Re:Prior Art so Prior It Hurts by harryandthehenderson · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Awww, do you want us to cry because you actually have to work hard to get a patent? Let me call the waaahmbulance for you.

  3. Re:Prior Art so Prior It Hurts by harryandthehenderson · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    My entire point, which you seemed to have missed, is that this notion that the USPTO rubber stamps patent applications (and especially software patent applications) is absolutely, demonstrably false.

    How could I have missed that point if I was asking you why I should care if the USPTO is making it difficult for people to get patents (a.k.a. the opposite of rubber stamping)?