Microsoft Seeks Patent On Virtual Graffiti Years After The Idea Is In Use
from the a-little-late-to-the-party dept
theodp points us to a new patent application from Microsoft for the concept of "virtual graffiti" that someone could leave for mobile devices connected to a real geographic area. As theodp notes: "Here's what passes for inventive these days in Redmond: 'Mary, while at Tom's house, may create graffiti on her cell FVG-enabled phone that says, 'Party Here Friday Night!' and make the graffiti available to all her friends. Then any of Mary's friends (with their FVG-enabled devices) passing by Tom's house would become aware of the graffiti associated with the house and be able to view it, thus becoming aware of the planned party.' Microsoft proudly boasts that the technology can also be used to shout 'Subscriber!' to newspaper boys as they pass customers' houses and exclaim 'Great lunch joint!' to those passing by a restaurant."If that doesn't sound particularly new or non-obvious that's because it's not. We wrote about nearly an identical system that was already in use at Cornell University in August of 2003, more than three years before this Microsoft patent application was filed. Even in writing about that story, we noted that there were a few similar systems already out there and that "people have been talking about such things for ages"). How this could possibly be considered new or non-obvious seems like a reasonable question. Hopefully the patent examiner agrees and rejects this application.
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
Filed Under: patents, prior art, virtual graffiti
Companies: microsoft
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
What world are you living in.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Why?
Is it starting to sink in that these big corporations are openly hostile to the greater good? That they would readily forfeit the well-being of their customers if it meant a bump in their quarterly stock price?
IMHO, these big corporations, and the rich that live off them, are simply begging for a class war. They'll be the first ones wailing and gnashing their teeth when that class war comes and they are confronted with their behavior.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Besides, it is a lot easier to approve an application than it is to turn it down. Turning down an application for a company with deep pockets means there will be more paperwork for appeals.
Overloaded examiners isn't the whole problem, but it is one factor in a totally broken system.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
execution counts.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Why?
This is a big problem with the patent system. You are damned if you do get a patent ("evil corp trying to stifle...") or you are damned if you don't (being sued by someone who actually does get a patent on "prior art" or "obvious invention").
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
If they have the better product, they'll win. Otherwise, get out of the way of your (better) competition.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
@Anon Cow...Since when...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Had This Invention In 2000 and 2001
At the time, I'd say the ideas were novel, slightly innovative, but hardly "inventions" worthy of patents.
A year later, as I launched into independent consulting in the wireless industry, my first client was a Vegas Casino that was being built by a wealthy upstart Vegas impresario. The idea was that a mobile Guide could be offered to high rollers when they arrived. The guide (an iPaq) would be able to book shows, dining, offer schedules, request services, and offer location-specific information based on where the guest was in the facility.
At the time, this was fairly innovative for the hotel industry, but not really too inspired.
So, 8 years later, we're considering patents on basically the same ideas? This is annoying.
It's like wireless email. Wireless data was an obvious progression. Email is a massively horizontal application, thus it was inevitable that we get wireless email, and yet dozens of patents were issued, and the lawsuits still rain down.
LBS are now inevitable, and blogs, forums, and community sites are very horizontal, and it seems inevitable that we will have LBS-enabled forums. Why our patent examiners can't see the obvious is non-obvious to me.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
re-inventing ideas of copyright, trademark, etc.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MS CRAFFITI
And that is all we need, is to be bombarded with the phone going off every block as we drive down the street, just because they can do it,(and they think their restaurant is the tops > greasy chicken and all).
PS: Who do I sue if the restaurant is terrible?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MS CRAFFITI
that "we whales" prefer that someone else do it for us, as compared to having to learn to deal with a iPaQ screen of options to get satisfaction.
(and a machine is not going to give all us those freebees), and does not receive the respect and attention that a beautiful hostess gets...(one that has been told to "Extend All Hospitalities" in order to keep the whale in the pool.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
New idea
[ link to this | view in thread ]