Difference between revisions of "Web Mapping Patents"

From OSGeo
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Added dates)
(Reorganized to handle multiple patents (added the 474 patent))
Line 1: Line 1:
= Introduction =
+
= The Multimap Patent =
 +
== Introduction ==
 
Multimap.com was awarded patents in 2000 and 2001 related to making maps on the Internet. The patent filed in 1996 claims rights to the technology described as:
 
Multimap.com was awarded patents in 2000 and 2001 related to making maps on the Internet. The patent filed in 1996 claims rights to the technology described as:
  
Line 10: Line 11:
 
SystèmeD has a [http://www.systemed.net/blog/?p=68 very interesting blog entry on this topic] which led to the creation of this wiki entry. Since it seems that the Multimap patent is coming back to life despite a large amount of prior art, we'll use this page to compile various sources of information, links to articles and other sources of prior art related to the patent.
 
SystèmeD has a [http://www.systemed.net/blog/?p=68 very interesting blog entry on this topic] which led to the creation of this wiki entry. Since it seems that the Multimap patent is coming back to life despite a large amount of prior art, we'll use this page to compile various sources of information, links to articles and other sources of prior art related to the patent.
  
= Blogs and News =
+
== Blogs and News ==
  
 
* Feb. 2009, SystèmeD: [http://www.systemed.net/blog/?p=68 Microsoft patents the map]
 
* Feb. 2009, SystèmeD: [http://www.systemed.net/blog/?p=68 Microsoft patents the map]
Line 16: Line 17:
 
* Nov. 2009, DirectionsMag: [http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/6808-.html Slew of Online Mappers Sued by WebMap Technologies for Patent Infringement]
 
* Nov. 2009, DirectionsMag: [http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/6808-.html Slew of Online Mappers Sued by WebMap Technologies for Patent Infringement]
  
= Articles and examples of prior art =
+
== Articles and examples of prior art ==
  
 
* The [http://www2.parc.com/istl/projects/mapdocs/ Xerox Parc Map Viewer], created in 1993
 
* The [http://www2.parc.com/istl/projects/mapdocs/ Xerox Parc Map Viewer], created in 1993
Line 23: Line 24:
 
** [http://www.isprs.org/publications/highlights/highlights0803/33_HL_09_03_Article.interv.pdf Intellectual Property, Patents and Web Mapping]
 
** [http://www.isprs.org/publications/highlights/highlights0803/33_HL_09_03_Article.interv.pdf Intellectual Property, Patents and Web Mapping]
 
* [http://www.gisnet.com/notebook/webgis.php Web GIS: Toy or Tool?], an article written by Bill Thoen in 1995 that also lists several examples of prior art
 
* [http://www.gisnet.com/notebook/webgis.php Web GIS: Toy or Tool?], an article written by Bill Thoen in 1995 that also lists several examples of prior art
* [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5930474 Internet organizer for accessing geographically and topically based information] is yet another web mapping patent, believed also to be the subject of a current lawsuit.
+
 
 +
 
 +
= The 474 Patent =
 +
 
 +
== Introduction ==
 +
 
 +
[http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5930474 Internet organizer for accessing geographically and topically based information] is yet another web mapping patent, believed also to be the subject of a current lawsuit.
 +
 
 +
== Blogs and News ==
 +
 
 +
* [http://apb.directionsmag.com/entry/patent-infringement-alleged-in-new-law-suit-for-store-location-mapping/163840 Patent Infringement Alleged in New Law Suit for Store Location Mapping Functionality] based on [http://www.crowell.com/NewsEvents/Newsletter.aspx?id=1617 information reported by the law firm Crowell & Moring]
 +
 
 +
== Articles and examples of prior art ==
 +
 
 +
* ...

Revision as of 12:46, 24 February 2011

The Multimap Patent

Introduction

Multimap.com was awarded patents in 2000 and 2001 related to making maps on the Internet. The patent filed in 1996 claims rights to the technology described as:

“A map of the area of a client computer (10) is requested from a map server (11). Information relating to a place of interest is requested from an information server (12) by the client computer (10). The information is superimposed or overlaid on a map image at a position on the map image corresponding to the location of the place of interest on the map. The information (or “overlay”) server (12) may contain details of, for example, hotels, restaurants, shops or the like, associated with the geographical coordinates of each location. The map server (11) contains map data, including coordinate data representing the spatial coordinates of at least one point on the area represented by the map.”

Back in March of 2002, a discussion came up on the MapServer-users list about this patent after a company was facing legal challenge from Multimap.com. Several examples of prior art were raised at the time, for the full discussion, look for the messages titled "Patent Challenge" in the mapserver-users list archives

In 2007, Multimap was bought by Microsoft, and it would seem that more recently Microsoft has started selling licenses of its patent.

SystèmeD has a very interesting blog entry on this topic which led to the creation of this wiki entry. Since it seems that the Multimap patent is coming back to life despite a large amount of prior art, we'll use this page to compile various sources of information, links to articles and other sources of prior art related to the patent.

Blogs and News

Articles and examples of prior art


The 474 Patent

Introduction

Internet organizer for accessing geographically and topically based information is yet another web mapping patent, believed also to be the subject of a current lawsuit.

Blogs and News

Articles and examples of prior art

  • ...