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Microsoft Lays Claim To Patent On 'Fans'

Posted by Soulskill on from the patent-trolls-are-a-fan-of-this dept.

theodp writes "A USPTO filing made public Thursday reveals that Microsoft is seeking a patent for something it calls 'One-Way Public Relationships' in social networks and other online properties, lawyer-speak for what's more commonly known as being a 'fan' of something online. It's unclear whether it's a goof on Apple, but Microsoft curiously used the example of a U2 fan named Steve to explain its 'invention' to the USPTO. Purported patent reformer Microsoft, which has called for the US to change from a first-to-invent patent system to a first-to-file system, filed the patent application in July 2009. Microsoft is a partner with and investor in Facebook, which first established its fan pages back in November 2007."

4 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. One-way-public relationships? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I call prior art when I had a crush on this girl who blew me off.

    1. Re:One-way-public relationships? by ae1294 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I call prior art when I had a crush on this girl who blew me off.

      no no you are thinking about the 'stalker patent'.

  2. patently by tverbeek · · Score: 1, Funny

    The one phrase that best describes this is "patently obviously".

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  3. "Like" by MrEricSir · · Score: 5, Funny

    Steve Ballmer and 2 other people like this.

    --
    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."