Read about this at work today. The patent will probably be invalidated after all the big gorillas in the industry complain to the US patent office. Plus there is probably prior art anyway. The patent was issued in 2000.
It's unbelievable some of the patents they give out. A 2000 patent for buying advantages in computing while online? 2000 is a little late to register something that had existed for well over 20 years.
I think I'm going to patent a means of separating a loaf of bread into smaller pieces. Then I'll patent a means of browning said bread. I'll patent a spread that can be applied to said browned bread. Of course, I'll have to patent some form of oblong object with a flat end to apply said bread. Wait, is that how I separated the loaf into smaller pieces? Ugh, I'll have to sue myself!
The usual, IANAL. (That has nothing to do with being attentive to details .
Everyone needs to know that about patents.t. The summaru/description of a patent means absolutely NOTHING. The devil is in the details...for patents that means the claims. With that said, most of the claims, have a lot of prior art. I think most of them will be knocked out if/when the patent is challenged.
The only claim which may be viable (debatable) is the claim of being able to purchase items without interrupt game play. For example, running out of hypos in a missions and something pops up and allow you to buy more hypos. Star Trek Online doesn't do that. To go buy something in the game, you have to go somewhere interrupting game play.
The usual, IANAL. (That has nothing to do with being attentive to details .
Everyone needs to know that about patents.t. The summaru/description of a patent means absolutely NOTHING. The devil is in the details...for patents that means the claims. With that said, most of the claims, have a lot of prior art. I think most of them will be knocked out if/when the patent is challenged.
The only claim which may be viable (debatable) is the claim of being able to purchase items without interrupt game play. For example, running out of hypos in a missions and something pops up and allow you to buy more hypos. Star Trek Online doesn't do that. To go buy something in the game, you have to go somewhere interrupting game play.
that's the angle I was looking at. Technically, using the C-Store interrupts the gameplay experience since it takes over the entire screen. The patent says nothing about the game not shutting down.
Well... Apple got the "Slide to unlock" patent... And won a general lawsuit about some other mobile developer (think it was samsung or motorola).
Depends which area you are talking about. Both Samsung and Apple had their cases dismissed in Germany: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17234598
Though they succeeded agains Motorola Mobility
As was mentioned in any case, and no just patents, the devil is in the detail. As such it is just a game of wait and see.
The only claim which may be viable (debatable) is the claim of being able to purchase items without interrupt game play. For example, running out of hypos in a missions and something pops up and allow you to buy more hypos. Star Trek Online doesn't do that. To go buy something in the game, you have to go somewhere interrupting game play.
Multipass! I mean multitask.
I don't have to park my rear in a corner to play around with the replicator or C-Store. (yay autofire/boffs?)
And am I the only that gets a slight deja vu about that time when someone sued MMO companies about some patent to online gaming or whatever?
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You'll have to pry it and my extra cheese, extra sauce, Pepperoni Lover's Pizza from my cold dead refrigerator.
All your refrigerators are belong to me.
I think I'm going to patent a means of separating a loaf of bread into smaller pieces. Then I'll patent a means of browning said bread. I'll patent a spread that can be applied to said browned bread. Of course, I'll have to patent some form of oblong object with a flat end to apply said bread. Wait, is that how I separated the loaf into smaller pieces? Ugh, I'll have to sue myself!
I know someone who is not gonna like that statement ...
If it is a cheese spread, you will owe me royalties.
The usual, IANAL. (That has nothing to do with being attentive to details
Everyone needs to know that about patents.t. The summaru/description of a patent means absolutely NOTHING. The devil is in the details...for patents that means the claims. With that said, most of the claims, have a lot of prior art. I think most of them will be knocked out if/when the patent is challenged.
The only claim which may be viable (debatable) is the claim of being able to purchase items without interrupt game play. For example, running out of hypos in a missions and something pops up and allow you to buy more hypos. Star Trek Online doesn't do that. To go buy something in the game, you have to go somewhere interrupting game play.
that's the angle I was looking at. Technically, using the C-Store interrupts the gameplay experience since it takes over the entire screen. The patent says nothing about the game not shutting down.
And we TOTALLY know Apple invented that idea:
http://pics.kuvaton.com/kuvei/apple_slide_to_unlock.jpg
Who knows... Anoying-games-inc might just win this too.
Depends which area you are talking about. Both Samsung and Apple had their cases dismissed in Germany:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17234598
Though they succeeded agains Motorola Mobility
As was mentioned in any case, and no just patents, the devil is in the detail. As such it is just a game of wait and see.
I don't have to park my rear in a corner to play around with the replicator or C-Store. (yay autofire/boffs?)
And am I the only that gets a slight deja vu about that time when someone sued MMO companies about some patent to online gaming or whatever?
I'm sure he would have if he knew he could have made money off it. Despite all his communistic teaching, he wasn't above making a quick buck.