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Top Accenture Scientist Patents Offshoring US Jobs

from the sounds-familiar? dept

Thu, Feb 21st 2008 8:29pm — Mike Masnick

theodp writes "Back in 2005, Accenture Chief Scientist Dr. Kishore Swaminathan teased in a blog entry: 'I have an idea that could revolutionize an important area of information technology - but I cannot tell you because I might compromise Accenture's patent rights.' In January, Swaminathan and co-inventor Charles Nebolsky were granted U.S. patent protection for Rapid knowledge transfer among workers, which covers 'transferring knowledge from expert workers at a client location to apprentice workers' at 'offshore locations such as India, the Philippines, China, etc., where labor is less expensive'. BTW, Accenture wants you experts and the EEOC to know that it's a meritocracy that does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, which would of course break the law."

This sounds oddly familiar. Remember a few months back when it came out that IBM had applied for a patent on offshoring? After that hit the news, IBM ended up dropping the claim. Somehow I doubt Accenture will do the same.

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Filed Under: offshoring, patents
Companies: accenture

19 Comments

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whatssatsmell, 21 Feb 2008 @ 10:03pm

Doctor heal thyself
Given the number of major computer projects that Accenture has put in the ditch you have wonder where all of these theoretical expert workers are.
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JB, 21 Feb 2008 @ 10:12pm

Uhhh...congrats....
On patenting the usage of Microsoft Sharepoint...
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Quagmire, 21 Feb 2008 @ 10:20pm

Giggity
They are in Bermuda, where they also keep Tiger Woods.

Oh and that smell... It's Curry. Dr. Kishore Swaminathan also invented smell-o-vision for blogs. (Patent Pending on that one too.)
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jdragon, 21 Feb 2008 @ 11:30pm

Patent losing jobs to overseas' sweatshops
I think I'll go patent this.
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Vincent Clement, 22 Feb 2008 @ 4:38am

I think it's called a phone.
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J Brown, 22 Feb 2008 @ 5:05am

Accenture
Another reason not to use overpriced Accenture consultants that don't bring much to the table other than their invoice. Wonder why your system sucks and takes so long to get built? Read the patent, knowledge transfer doesn't happen through a system.
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salametti, 22 Feb 2008 @ 5:25am

get rid of him
just as we approach an age of uncertainty security in this country...we have some dingle dorfs like rubbing in the fact that they can jack us for our job through a patent? wtf take these people OUT!!
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Skweezer, 22 Feb 2008 @ 5:28am

Accenture
I wonder if the patent includes how a Highly Overpriced consulting firm can offshore 1 analyst job to 20 offshore agents for what turns out to be about the same price and much harder to support.
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Killer_Tofu (profile), 22 Feb 2008 @ 5:46am

Re Main Post
"Somehow I doubt Accenture will do the same."

Probably beacuse the patent office, 9 times out of 10, is dumb enough to grant it.
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salametti, 22 Feb 2008 @ 5:58am

enslave your own people!!!
hey man!! remember you are living in the USA, driving our cars, eating our food, living on our land while you try to make us look like idiots selling out the rest of the world to slavery for 50 cents per day.....in the name of national security, you need to rethink this!!! you probably went to american schools, and used american money for your american college degree WHY DONT YOU TRY TO CREATE YOUR OWN JOBS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY...AND ENSLAVE YOUR OWN PEOPLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! this might backfire on you!! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND FUCK YOUR OWN PEOPLE..NOT US!!
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Feb 2008 @ 6:31am

Re: Doctor heal thyself
I've seen the end result of "theoretical expert" projects, and they normally belong in the ditch.
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Danny Mittleman, 22 Feb 2008 @ 9:14am

enslave your own people?
"WHY DONT YOU TRY TO CREATE YOUR OWN JOBS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY...AND ENSLAVE YOUR OWN PEOPLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! this might backfire on you!! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND FUCK YOUR OWN PEOPLE..NOT US!!"

My god, that's ignorant (and internally contradictory) bigotry. My apologies to all immigrants (and others) offended by this.
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John Opincar, 22 Feb 2008 @ 9:47am

Frankly, I'd be Embarrassed...
if I was a patent lawyer or involved with the patent system in any way other than trying to reform it. I'd be embarrased to be Accenture -- they have someone high up in their organization that thinks this is patentable. Not only that, but they get excited enought about it to put it on their blog.
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chuck diesel, 22 Feb 2008 @ 11:50am

enslave our own people?
WTF mate. I'm pretty sure "your" (anyone who isn't American) people are fine with the work they are getting. Globalization is one reason why the U.S. economy is suffering, while "your" economy is reaping the benefits... I do like your cars though. Thanks for making them champ.
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chris, 23 Feb 2008 @ 3:58am

"WHY DONT YOU TRY TO CREATE YOUR OWN JOBS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY...AND ENSLAVE YOUR OWN PEOPLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! this might backfire on you!! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND FUCK YOUR OWN PEOPLE..NOT US!!"

I think this will answer your question - http://www.clubs.psu.edu/up/sayar/riqs.htm
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Mohan, 27 Feb 2008 @ 1:49pm

Patenting Offshoring or just a process?
Thanks for the tipoff. I will have to check out the patent draft or read up a bit more but on the surface it looks like "The Rapid Knowledge Transfer Suite" is only a part of the overall life-cycle; may be a toolkit?
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2008 @ 8:37pm

**** accenture
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hellen thomas, 29 Sep 2009 @ 11:41pm

Quality Listing
I would like to list your url on the subject offshoring on our home page/inner pages in exchange you list our site on your website as well.
Please confirm 2 keywords to list your site and your site will be added as soon as possible

Thank you for time

Sincerly

Hellen thomas
Outsourcing Solutions
http://www.outsourcingsol.com
Kansas City, Mo
1 816 572 6285

N/B
We also have other quality sites that we can add you, So if you do have other sites, please update us
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real deal, 13 Jun 2010 @ 10:15pm

Re: Giggity
you're a classy guy. i fear the future of the US with morons like you around.
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