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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."

4 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. Whatis bot by wmaker · · Score: 3, Interesting

    as an IBM employee I use the "Whatis bot" all the time. It is just a chat bot on Sametime chat inside Lotus Notes that allows you to message it an abbreviation and it tells you all the meanings. This is very useful when you get an e-mail from a long time IBMer that knows every abbreviation and doesn't hesitate to use them.

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    What is slashdot?
  2. The most trivial patent awarded so far? by Phrogman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Does this win some sort of stupidity award for the most ridiculous patenting of something that shouldn't be patentable? Whats next, patenting the use of punctuation in sentances?

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    "The first time I got drunk, I got married. The second time I bought a chimpanzee, after that I stayed sober" Arian Seid
  3. New rule! by headkase · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If a patent application is found to be completely stupid one of your other patents is invalidated by random draw! *wishes*

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    Shh.
  4. Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? by Ilgaz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Worse, they patented a *BSD classic application's function.

    Check http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/src/games/wtf/

    Yes, it is really the "wtf" command. They really need some heads up from BSD guys.