Manage updates with the Download AppFebruary 22, 2006 12:28 PM PST
Company claims patent win in online rich media
According to information on the Patent Office's Web site, this patent covers "methods, systems and processes for the design and creation of rich-media applications via the Internet."
According to a summary of the patent, "the present invention relates to the method of providing users with the ability to create rich-media applications via the Internet."
Balthaser apparently intends to license the patent to companies that deliver rich-media services over the Web using technologies such as Adobe Systems' Flash, AJAX and Java.
"This new addition to our patent portfolio is a pioneering patent and provides significant licensing opportunities for both Balthaser and our licensees," Neil Balthaser, chief executive officer of the company, said in a statement.
"The patent covers all rich-media technology implementations including Flash, Flex, Java, AJAX and XAML and all device footprints which access rich-media Internet applications including desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles," Balthaser added. "Balthaser will be able to provide licenses for almost any rich-media Internet application across a broad range of devices and networks."
Adobe, one of the market leaders in the rich-media space, is expected to respond to Balthaser's patent award on Thursday.
It's possible that Balthaser may struggle to enforce its patent, because of prior art--the process where a patent is invalid if it can be proven that the innovation in question already existed before the patent was filed.
Balthaser filed its patent application on Feb. 9, 2001. But back in 1999, a company called Javu Technologies launched a product called VideoFarm that allowed PC users to create and manage multimedia content over the Internet.
Bola Rotibi, a senior analyst at Ovum, suggested that the award of the patent to Balthaser should focus attention on the issue of software patents.
"Balthaser's patent awards, and its consequences for leading players, demonstrates both the good and bad of software patents," Rotibi said.
"Players such as Microsoft, Adobe, Google, Yahoo, to name but a few, are making significant investments in rich Internet and interactive technology," Rotibi added. "Many are placing bets that this technology, in conjunction with handheld device proliferation and embedded technology, is the gateway to a market that sees a convergence between consumer, workplace and appliance interactions. This is a defining market--not unlike the effect the PC had for Microsoft--and the bedrock of future software applications."
Graeme Wearden and Rupert Goodwins of ZDNet UK reported from London.
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"The patent covers all rich-media technology implementations including Flash, Flex, Java, AJAX and XAML and all device footprints which access rich-media Internet applications including desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles,"
This seems like too broad a patent for one sole company to have. Looks like a strangle hold on technologies if I'm reading the article right. I hope someone challenges this.
"The patent covers all rich-media technology implementations including Flash, Flex, Java, AJAX and XAML and all device footprints which access rich-media Internet applications including desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles,"
This seems like too broad a patent for one sole company to have. Looks like a strangle hold on technologies if I'm reading the article right. I hope someone challenges this.
Perhaps firing a few people at the Patent Office would be in order so that the rest would start doing their job. I know they complain about the load but when they aren't doing their job at all then they need to be thrown out.
Perhaps firing a few people at the Patent Office would be in order so that the rest would start doing their job. I know they complain about the load but when they aren't doing their job at all then they need to be thrown out.
From the patenet:
"The present invention relates to the method of providing users with the ability to create rich-media applications via the Internet. In a specific embodiment, users may access a host website supplying the ability to create rich-media applications, examine the available product set, and construct a rich-media application on the host website. In a specific embodiment, the host website enables the user to modify an existing rich-media application on the host website. "
The company spokesman overhyped their patent win, and News.com picked up on it.
Patents work for hardware because a hardware patent is like computer copyright. You can patent your implementation of Corkscrew, but you can't patent the abstract concept of "Opening a bottle of wine". At least you couldn't before software patents came along.
Software patents are too broad. They can kill off competition by locking up whole problem domains. File format patents, a relative, allow complete vendor lockin to file formats and prevent the computer equivalent of the "Generic Spare Parts" market. Imagine what costs you'd have to pay if that market didn't exist in the physical world.
From the patenet:
"The present invention relates to the method of providing users with the ability to create rich-media applications via the Internet. In a specific embodiment, users may access a host website supplying the ability to create rich-media applications, examine the available product set, and construct a rich-media application on the host website. In a specific embodiment, the host website enables the user to modify an existing rich-media application on the host website. "
The company spokesman overhyped their patent win, and News.com picked up on it.
Patents work for hardware because a hardware patent is like computer copyright. You can patent your implementation of Corkscrew, but you can't patent the abstract concept of "Opening a bottle of wine". At least you couldn't before software patents came along.
Software patents are too broad. They can kill off competition by locking up whole problem domains. File format patents, a relative, allow complete vendor lockin to file formats and prevent the computer equivalent of the "Generic Spare Parts" market. Imagine what costs you'd have to pay if that market didn't exist in the physical world.
boolean logic one of these days.
It has already been done. Look up the Cadtrack XOR patent. "An
XOR feature allows a selective erase that restores lines crossing
or concurrent with erased lines. The XOR feature permits part of
the drawing to be moved or "dragged" into place without erasing
other parts of the drawing."
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?" target="_newWindow">http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?</a>
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4,197,590.WKU.&OS=PN/
4,197,590&RS=PN/4,197,590
boolean logic one of these days.
It has already been done. Look up the Cadtrack XOR patent. "An
XOR feature allows a selective erase that restores lines crossing
or concurrent with erased lines. The XOR feature permits part of
the drawing to be moved or "dragged" into place without erasing
other parts of the drawing."
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?" target="_newWindow">http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?</a>
Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/
srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=4,197,590.WKU.&OS=PN/
4,197,590&RS=PN/4,197,590
Products such as Remote Desktop, Citrix, PC-Anywhere, and VNC have existed for years, and at least part of these have allowed remote audio editing, file transfering, and remote video editing. Even if you take the wording 'through a web site' Citrix and Remote Desktop each have an active-x module, that would allow a user to remote-connect to a server via an active-x web page to perform the editing, and still pull local desktop files up to the editing server.
I think even Yahoo's GeoCities allowed some forms of media editing remotely, at least the posting of media remotely through their online web page editors.
Think of the web sites that allow creating personal e-cards. These sites allow you to customize the content of a rich-media site, and the URL of your content is then sent on to the person you intended the e-card to go to. These sites let you pick from pre-created audio, flash, and insert your own custom text and pictures.
The Patent system needs a significant overhaul. Perhaps a penalty system where if you file a patent, and obvious prior art is found, then a penalty has to be paid. Proving even obvious prior art for a penalty might be hard to do, but might at least it would set some risk for the patent holder who doesn't think first before filing. If only there was a way to force the patent filer to research prior art on the patent before filing.
Products such as Remote Desktop, Citrix, PC-Anywhere, and VNC have existed for years, and at least part of these have allowed remote audio editing, file transfering, and remote video editing. Even if you take the wording 'through a web site' Citrix and Remote Desktop each have an active-x module, that would allow a user to remote-connect to a server via an active-x web page to perform the editing, and still pull local desktop files up to the editing server.
I think even Yahoo's GeoCities allowed some forms of media editing remotely, at least the posting of media remotely through their online web page editors.
Think of the web sites that allow creating personal e-cards. These sites allow you to customize the content of a rich-media site, and the URL of your content is then sent on to the person you intended the e-card to go to. These sites let you pick from pre-created audio, flash, and insert your own custom text and pictures.
The Patent system needs a significant overhaul. Perhaps a penalty system where if you file a patent, and obvious prior art is found, then a penalty has to be paid. Proving even obvious prior art for a penalty might be hard to do, but might at least it would set some risk for the patent holder who doesn't think first before filing. If only there was a way to force the patent filer to research prior art on the patent before filing.
Contact me and I can give you your payment options.
Contact me and I can give you your payment options.
"The patent covers all rich-media technology implementations including Flash, Flex, Java, AJAX and XAML and all device footprints which access rich-media Internet applications including desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles," Balthaser added. "Balthaser will be able to provide licenses for almost any rich-media Internet application across a broad range of devices and networks."
The message to software developers at big companies is clear. Patent everything you create, no matter how obvious or simple. The company can decide not to enforce the patent, but at least it will provide protection against other "patent trolls" who are always trying to extort money.
I wrote a blog on this subject today. get the full story at <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/02/don_dodge_daily.html" target="_newWindow">http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/02/don_dodge_daily.html</a>
"The patent covers all rich-media technology implementations including Flash, Flex, Java, AJAX and XAML and all device footprints which access rich-media Internet applications including desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles," Balthaser added. "Balthaser will be able to provide licenses for almost any rich-media Internet application across a broad range of devices and networks."
The message to software developers at big companies is clear. Patent everything you create, no matter how obvious or simple. The company can decide not to enforce the patent, but at least it will provide protection against other "patent trolls" who are always trying to extort money.
I wrote a blog on this subject today. get the full story at <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/02/don_dodge_daily.html" target="_newWindow">http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/02/don_dodge_daily.html</a>
2) NeXTStep
3) Enterprise Objects (now Web Objects)
4) 1991 & 1992
'Nuf said.
2) NeXTStep
3) Enterprise Objects (now Web Objects)
4) 1991 & 1992
'Nuf said.
This is NOT Ajax -- this is some kind of stupid package that they wrote in Visual Basic that creates Flash Movies...
Sherman -- set the way back machine -- Remember when Macromedia came out with "Flash Remoting" and "Rich-Internet Apps" or RIA's ???
This is NOT Ajax -- this is some kind of stupid package that they wrote in Visual Basic that creates Flash Movies...
Sherman -- set the way back machine -- Remember when Macromedia came out with "Flash Remoting" and "Rich-Internet Apps" or RIA's ???