Can We Build An IM Bot That Discusses Bad Patents?
from the more-for-the-lawyers dept
In yet another example of bad patents, ActiveBuddy has been granted a patent for creating instant mesasging bots. The scary thing, however, is just how smug ActiveBuddy's founder, Tim Kay, sounds in the quotes in the article where he talks about going after anyone else who is creating IMbots. For example: "We invented interactive agents. Anybody using his or her own tools is obviously using our technology without paying us." There are plenty of examples of prior art, which Kay simply brushes off by saying, "I am fairly confident, there were no interactive agents on IM at that point when the application was filed. I'm certainly not aware of any." In other words, just because he didn't know of any, they obviously could not have existed.
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Damn the patents!
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What an ass.
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My favorite prior art...
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No Subject Given
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i thought so...
http://www.compapp.dcu.ie/~humphrys/eliza.html
Actually, he has a good set of links on old AI and chat 'bots'.
Good luck with enforcing that patent, cocky mofo.
And another big "thanks" to our patent office!
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Eggdrop
How could anyone possibly think this was a unique and new patentable idea. While IRC isn't exactly the same as IM it's not that terribly far off, and this is just an extension of pre-existing work.
I think they need to create a new computer division of the patent office that isn't so moronic.
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