USPTO Gives Google Patent For Doodles

Posted by samzenpus on Tuesday March 22, 2011 @06:17AM from the omg-ponies dept.

theodp writes "After a 10-year struggle, the USPTO was convinced to issue Google a patent Tuesday for Systems and Methods for Enticing Users to Access a Web Site, aka Google Doodles. Among other things, Google explains that the invention of co-founder Sergey Brin covers modifying a company logo with 'a turkey for Thanksgiving' and 'a leprechaun's pot of gold for Saint Patrick's Day.' To help drive home its point, Google included an illustration showing the USPTO that hearts could be displayed on the Google home page for Valentine's, which would be deja-vu-all-over-again for the 394 lovers who used the UIUC PLATO system on Feb. 14th, 1975."

3 of 150 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Prior art by Shikaku · 2011-03-22 06:18 · Score: 4, Insightful

10000BC, caves.
1. Re:Prior art by Nidi62 · 2011-03-22 06:20 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Yes, but this is USING COMPUTERS! That makes is a completely different, novel invention worthy of protection.
  
  --
  The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
Re:Ridiculous. by Dachannien · 2011-03-22 06:43 · Score: 3, Insightful

So, did you read the patent claims, or just the typically misleading /. summary?