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Watch us as we break the law. |
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Written by Chris Tangora
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Thursday, 29 May 2008 |
 I did it. You don't realize it yet, but that picture to the left is a direct patent infringement. You can't tell by just looking at it, but if you click on it you'll see that it is linked to another webpage. Don't tell the cops, at least don't tell the Singapore cops. Apparently the Singapore based VueStar has a patent granted in 2006 that says if you have an image that is linked to another web page, you are using their Intellectual Property and are in direct patent infringement.
Okay. Yes, this is true. But it is also a load of crap. VueStar has sent out invoice to companies asking for money from them for using their patents. If push comes to shove this should fall under the "obviousness test" that the Supreme Court helped reinforce recently. If this were a true patent infringement everyone from your grandma to Google would be in violation. There are more details that the patent goes into but they are all a load of BS, like searching through a database to find images to display? Really? Bottom line, don't worry about the cops busting down your door to slap you with a fine, unless you live in Singapore.
Favorite quote is from VueStar, "If your site is only text and has no images, icons or other patent methods then no license required".
Link to US Patent 7065520
From theinquirer.net via arstechnia.com
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