If you read the patent, it describes a physical system used for data retrieval. As far as I can tell, BT is claiming that hyperlinks (a part of the HTML protocol) are the equivalent of that physical system. Claiming patent rights on data retrieval in general can only be valid if BT pursues the rights under a "method of doing business" appeal. Unfortunately, at the time of the patent (1980, which, by the way, was over TWENTY YEARS ago, and therefore invalid), "methods of doing business" were unpatentable per the rules of patent law. Thus, BT could not claim that they were patenting a method of doing business at the time.
This is absolutely wonderful. SPAM'ers have rights, too... They're human beings just like the rest of us.
And so is the Unabomber.
Heck, who are they hurting? It's not like my mailserv chokes on SPAM twice a week or anything - I get a sick sense of joy when it does... Makes me glad to know the American economy is grinding away.
I say someone finds the judge's e-mail and we all introduce him to the wonderful world of SPAM.
Honestly, it's a federal offence to go around your neighborhood and put anything (flyers, etc.) into your neighbor's mailboxes... You're supposed to go the normal route and pay way too much so that the USPS can lose it. SPAM'ers should be required to live by rules, too - forging IP's and routes and failing to tag with "ADV:" should be capital offences.
I'm tempted to send all my mail to/dev/null and just go back to smoke signals.
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What scares me is that office workers would be "driving" these to work. As if the traffic isn't bad enough here on the ground, eh?
...
Would we have lanes and such in the sky, or would it be a free-for all? I can hardly see people forming nice lines (a la Jetsons) in the air.
And of course we'll need MADA - Mothers Against Drunk AirScootering
If you read the patent, it describes a physical system used for data retrieval. As far as I can tell, BT is claiming that hyperlinks (a part of the HTML protocol) are the equivalent of that physical system. Claiming patent rights on data retrieval in general can only be valid if BT pursues the rights under a "method of doing business" appeal. Unfortunately, at the time of the patent (1980, which, by the way, was over TWENTY YEARS ago, and therefore invalid), "methods of doing business" were unpatentable per the rules of patent law. Thus, BT could not claim that they were patenting a method of doing business at the time.
Strap some variable-exhaust plasma rockets on my car and call me George Jetson...
This is absolutely wonderful. SPAM'ers have rights, too... They're human beings just like the rest of us.
/dev/null and just go back to smoke signals.
And so is the Unabomber.
Heck, who are they hurting? It's not like my mailserv chokes on SPAM twice a week or anything - I get a sick sense of joy when it does... Makes me glad to know the American economy is grinding away.
I say someone finds the judge's e-mail and we all introduce him to the wonderful world of SPAM.
Honestly, it's a federal offence to go around your neighborhood and put anything (flyers, etc.) into your neighbor's mailboxes... You're supposed to go the normal route and pay way too much so that the USPS can lose it. SPAM'ers should be required to live by rules, too - forging IP's and routes and failing to tag with "ADV:" should be capital offences.
I'm tempted to send all my mail to