Comments on: Google Granted Patent For & About Nothing http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/ A member of the Gartner Blog Network Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:44:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Go On Google, Sue Microsoft…I Dare You! http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-1086 Go On Google, Sue Microsoft…I Dare You! Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:57:17 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/#comment-1086 [...] I’ve noted, the design innovation of Google.com is basically the white space. That makes this a Seinfeld patent – it’s a patent about nothing. But let’s for a moment assume that a search field and a couple of pieces of hyperlinked text [...] [...] I’ve noted, the design innovation of Google.com is basically the white space. That makes this a Seinfeld patent – it’s a patent about nothing. But let’s for a moment assume that a search field and a couple of pieces of hyperlinked text [...]

]]> By: EMG http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-1079 EMG Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:59 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/#comment-1079 It's a design patent. Basically the copying site would need to rip the google homepage exactly. It doesn't have docterine of equivalents like a utility application. The USPTO is just protecting Google from exact rip-offs; slightly more than a copyright. It’s a design patent. Basically the copying site would need to rip the google homepage exactly. It doesn’t have docterine of equivalents like a utility application. The USPTO is just protecting Google from exact rip-offs; slightly more than a copyright.

]]> By: Brian Prentice http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 Brian Prentice Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:09:16 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/#comment-1077 Eric - ya, exactly. That's what I was thinking. You know, this should be a patent. Just this commenting. Commenting about nothing. What I'm saying is I go to the USPTO and the tell them I got this idea for a patent about nothing. Mind you, they'll probably tell us Google already has a patent for that. :-) Eric – ya, exactly. That’s what I was thinking. You know, this should be a patent. Just this commenting. Commenting about nothing.

What I’m saying is I go to the USPTO and the tell them I got this idea for a patent about nothing. Mind you, they’ll probably tell us Google already has a patent for that.

:-)

]]> By: Brian Prentice http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 Brian Prentice Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:01:13 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/#comment-1076 David Banes - I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Having said that I invariably get someone saying software patents are bad every time I post something about patents. I respectfully disagree. If you're really worried about stifling innovation I suggest you turn your attention to trade secret law and, in particular, non-compete clauses in employment contracts which restrict the free flow of expertise. But patents come with a contingent responsibility to make your innovation publicly available so that others may improve upon it. That helps innovation! Also, In this particular case we are talking about a design patent. But the issue here is not the existence of these patents but how the system could actually let something this laughable get through. BTW - a building isn't just a collection of bricks. It also includes a range of other high-tech materials and fixtures which often require many specialized tools to assemble. Chances are that there are plenty of patents across that broad range of products. David Banes – I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Having said that I invariably get someone saying software patents are bad every time I post something about patents. I respectfully disagree. If you’re really worried about stifling innovation I suggest you turn your attention to trade secret law and, in particular, non-compete clauses in employment contracts which restrict the free flow of expertise. But patents come with a contingent responsibility to make your innovation publicly available so that others may improve upon it. That helps innovation!

Also, In this particular case we are talking about a design patent. But the issue here is not the existence of these patents but how the system could actually let something this laughable get through.

BTW – a building isn’t just a collection of bricks. It also includes a range of other high-tech materials and fixtures which often require many specialized tools to assemble. Chances are that there are plenty of patents across that broad range of products.

]]> By: Eric Knipp http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-1075 Eric Knipp Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:52:53 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/#comment-1075 I love it. The Seinfeld of patents. I love it. The Seinfeld of patents.

]]> By: David Banes http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/comment-page-1/#comment-1074 David Banes Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:28:02 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/brian_prentice/2009/09/03/google-granted-patent-for-about-nothing/#comment-1074 On a related topic. Overall software patents are bad because they stifle innovation. I look at software as a large collection of bytes, much the same way a building is a large collection of bricks, are there many building patents? On a related topic. Overall software patents are bad because they stifle innovation.

I look at software as a large collection of bytes, much the same way a building is a large collection of bricks, are there many building patents?

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