[Swordmaker]

Transfer of digital media from a server to another computer has been patented... Patent applied for October 5, 2000, issued March 2006. Reading the patent does not show that the "inventor" actually invented anything... but just listed what COULD be done. In fact, it is my opinion it was already being done in October 1999 when they claimed to have invented this idea... at least on Porn sites.

PING!

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[dalight]

This will come under the obvious patent question in front of Supreme Court at this moment. Software patents are the death of innovation and do nothing to assist the process.

[TheBattman]

Gotta love retroactive patents....of ideas that are so general as to not be a patentable idea.

I see this as somewhat akin to someone in about 1920 getting a retroactive patent - back dated to 1880 - for an idea of a mode of transportation using wheels and an internal combustion engine (no specific detail of such), then applying that to every automobile made prior to the date. It could be applied to cars, trucks, motorcycles, and many other areas. The idea is just too broad.

Now - had they come up with a specific model that included very specific methods of distribution and the software and hardware specifics to enable said technology - then maybe they deserved a patent.

[BunnySlippers]

Apple shares DOWN after the bell. Investigation involving Steve Jobs (and others) options grants.

I'm going home ... more later.