Microsoft Claims Patent On Popular Children's Magazine Feature
from the rebus-indeed dept
theodp writes "Remember those cute Highlights for Children rebus stories that pair pictures with words? Well, Microsoft has laid claim to a patent for bringing the same concept to your e-mail and the web, replacing words with corporate logos (logocons in Microsoft parlance), which may someday make the web look like this."
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
If a patent means ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I suppose some kids on spring break might humor themselves with the little toy, but I do not see this as a main stream application.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Have to agree
Patent still shouldn't be allowed (prior art, hello Highlights! Text is text) but its one of the least dangerous patent attempts.
Probably why Mike hasn't really added anything.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If Microsoft can prevent other email providers from doing anything so completely asinine, that's also a bonus.
I don't see any downside to them having this patent.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Seriously, how is this different from the various Firefox add-ons or Greasemonkey scripts that alter the look of a page? Or from a web site or program that converts the language of a web page?
The downward spiral of the USPTO continues unabated.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
1) Take any tired old thing, blow the dust off
2) add new fangled techno words (like net or web)
3) patent your new "invention"
4) hire a lawyer in E. Texas
5) Profit !!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Spin here
it's always obvious after someone else thinks of it..but this is the first time I have seen the idea.
Give it a break.. read some of the mechanical patents that have been granted..
I am tired of the mindless attacks on Microsoft or Patents.. it makes the worthy criticisms less potent because they get lost in a mindless noise of whining.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Spin here
This is the first time you've ever heard of replacing text with an image? This 'idea' isn't revolutionary...your internet browser does the same thing when it replaces an html image tag with the specified image.
Microsoft is calling it a "new online advertising product" and creating the term "logocon" to distract from what they're really trying to patent: replacing text with a picture.
First of all it has not relationship to Children's Magazine.. but hey nice yellow journalism spin.
Have you even bothered to read the patent? It describes the exact same thing Highlights magazine does for their rebus stories - using a picture instead of the word. Just because Microsoft is calling the pictures 'logocons' and putting it on the internet doesn't make it a new idea.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Spin here
The whole thing is absurd. What's next, hearing the company jingle when you hover over the word (remember the kids books that had the buttons down the side)? Let's call it 'jingletunes' and patent it (adtunes is already taken).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Spin here
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Spin here
it's always obvious after someone else thinks of it..but this is the first time I have seen the idea.
Give it a break.. read some of the mechanical patents that have been granted..
I am tired of the mindless attacks on Microsoft or Patents.. it makes the worthy criticisms less potent because they get lost in a mindless noise of whining."
You area aware that this is how Smilies work on discussion forums (and most other web comminication systems) - that would suggest that it was obvious many years before now!
The only difference I see in Microsofts attempt to patent this is that they will no doubt be looking to use it for online advertising in a manner similar to how the current 'keyword highlighting' methods work (so again, it's been done already)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
"Logocons"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Here's to hoping
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
So that they can own the tools to track usage of this message method to "Protect" their IP.
I can see two uses or reasons right off the bat:
1- having a method in place where their software identifies and removes images/ideas etc not in-line with MS philosophy or business practices or protect itself or its business partners from slanderous speech.
2- MS got wind that the gov't was planning on searching emails for coded messages using this technique(waves to the Patriot Act) - MS then becomes the gatekeeper - since they are the likely entity now to develop software to track it.
MS is likely to need some bigger vaults to hold more of our money in. This time it'll be taxpayer money. This is the HTML equivalent of the 'cut out of newspaper text ransom letter'.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Download Microsoft's patent in PDF format
Patent Retriever - http://www.patentretriever.com
[ link to this | view in chronology ]