Why software patents need to be reformed (this affects all websites with dynamic content)

USPO ^ | USPO

[N3WBI3]

Here are the abstracts

6,415,335
The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for creating and managing custom Web sites. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention claims a computer-implemented method for managing a dynamic Web page generation request to a Web server, the computer-implemented method comprising the steps of routing the request from the Web server to a page server, the page server receiving the request and releasing the Web server to process other requests, processing the request, the processing being performed by the page server concurrently with the Web server, as the Web server processes the other requests, and dynamically generating a Web page in response to the request, the Web page including data dynamically retrieved from one or more data sources.

5,894,554
The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for creating and managing custom Web sites. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention claims a computer-implemented method for managing a dynamic Web page generation request to a Web server, the computer-implemented method comprising the steps of routing the request from the Web server to a page server, the page server receiving the request and releasing the Web server to process other requests, processing the request, the processing being performed by the page server concurrently with the Web server, as the Web server processes the other requests, and dynamically generating a Web page in response to the request, the Web page including data dynamically retrieved from one or more data sources.

[N3WBI3]

The first patent describes dynamic website which would include php, perl, asp, jsp, java, ... By granting a trivial patent with a ton of prior art out there the US patent office has pushed a small company (eharmony) to defend itself in court. Even though this patent will likely be thrown out eharmony (http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:r6Kh1BPn7UkJ:www.iptoday.com/pdf_current/RFC%2520Final.pdf+eharmony+epicrealm&hl=en) and in doing so is forcing the company to fight what might be an expensive legal battle..

[N3WBI3]

Ping tech list?

[ShadowAce]

[zeugma]

I'm so glad my government is involved in promoting "the progress of science and useful arts". I think they should make patents perpetual just like copyrights.</sarcasm>

[N3WBI3]

This is where I was going with the problems of software patents..

[antiRepublicrat]

The USPTO long ago stopped doing its duty, instead letting the courts vet the patents. It's not all their fault since Congress has been siphoning off their examination fees, leaving them grossly understaffed.

[antiRepublicrat]

I think they should make patents perpetual just like copyrights

Haven't you heard, as long as Congress doesn't blatantly declare copyrights to be "perpetual," then they aren't. Apparently "perpetual copyright on the installment plan" (thanks to Larry Lessig for that great term) is just fine constitutionally. Well, just fine according to the court that brought us Kelo and other fine decisions.

[zeugma]

I've actually heard the scum Hillary Rosen argue that infinity minus one day would be a "limited time". Apparently the bozos on the court agree. Bunch of freaking losers.

Personally, I no longer have any respect whatsoever for any copyright of more than 30 years.