Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

USPTO Awards LOL Patent To IBM

Posted by samzenpus on from the wtf-industries dept.

theodp writes "Among the last batch of patents granted in 2009 was one for IBM's Resolution of Abbreviated Text in an Electronic Communications System. The invention of four IBMers addresses the hitherto unsolvable problem of translating abbreviations to their full meaning — e.g., 'IMHO' means 'In My Humble Opinion' — and vice versa. From the patent: 'One particularly useful application of the invention is to interpret the meaning of shorthand terms ... For example, one database may define the shorthand term "LOL" to mean "laughing out loud."' USPTO records indicate the patent filing was made more than a year after Big Blue called on the industry to stop what it called 'bad behavior' by companies who seek patents for unoriginal work. Yet another example of what USPTO Chief David Kappos called IBM's apparent schizophrenia on patent policy back when he managed Big Blue's IP portfolio."

7 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. lol = laughing out loud? WTF? by selven · · Score: 5, Funny

    "lol" hasn't meant anything close to "laughing out loud" for years. It's more like "your statement is slightly humorous, but I'm definitely not laughing".

    1. Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? by Tr3vin · · Score: 5, Funny

      lol

    2. Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? by mqduck · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, "lol" is now an anti-abbreviation for a period. For example:
      "today i went to the store and got some orange juice lol"

      --
      Property is theft.
    3. Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? by Brentyl · · Score: 5, Funny

      This patent would have helped a co-worker of mine's uncle: He thought LOL meant "Lots of Love."

      Pretty harmless, until he started using it inappropriately: "I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. LOL" or "You're better off without him anyway. LOL".

      Apparently, they had to hold an intervention. :)

  2. Re:Did IBM just patent every geek's head? by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    My memory is the database.

    Mine too, but more like MS-Access after passing the 1-gig recommended limit.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  3. Re:Summary is wrong, read the patent by lastchance_000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Tell that to Imhotep.

  4. Whatis bot query by stephanruby · · Score: 5, Funny

    CRAP.

    > whatis CRAP

    >>> IBM's CRAP:: Internally known as Consumer Research and Planning.