Difference between revisions of "Web Mapping Patents"

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= The Multimap Patent =
 
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== Introduction ==
 
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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:
 
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:“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.”
 
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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 [http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/mapserver-users/2002-March/thread.html#33994 mapserver-users list archives]
 
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In 2007, Multimap was [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/dec/12/microsoft.digitalmedia bought by Microsoft], and it would seem that more recently [http://news.softpedia.com/news/Map-Comparison-Service-Built-with-Microsoft-Licensed-Technology-104937.shtml Microsoft has started selling licenses of its patent].
 
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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.
 
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== Blogs and News ==
 
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* Feb. 2009, SystèmeD: [http://www.systemed.net/blog/?p=68 Microsoft patents the map]
 
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* Feb. 2009, Baliz-Media: [http://media.baliz-geospatial.com/fr/blogue/et-si-microsoft-detenait-le-brevet-du-web-mapping Et si Microsoft détenait le brevet du web-mapping?] (French)
 
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* Nov. 2009, DirectionsMag: [http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/6808-.html Slew of Online Mappers Sued by WebMap Technologies for Patent Infringement]
 
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== Articles and examples of prior art ==
 
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* The [http://www2.parc.com/istl/projects/mapdocs/ Xerox Parc Map Viewer], created in 1993
 
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* Huse, S.M., 1995, GRASSLinks: A New Model for Spatial Information Access for Environmental Planning. Ph.D Thesis, University of California , URL: http://www.regis.berkeley.edu/sue/phd/ ([http://web.archive.org/web/19970624110458/http://www.regis.berkeley.edu/sue/phd/ backup])
 
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** GRASSLinks OCU Version2.5: A PUBLIC ACCESS GIS: http://wgrass.media.osaka-cu.ac.jp/grasslinks/ (Reference to [http://wgrass.media.osaka-cu.ac.jp/grasslinks/copyright.html Copyright 1994])
 
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** GRASSLinks 3.1 at REGIS, UC BERKELEY: http://ippc2.orst.edu/glinks/gl_copyright.html
 
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** OSU IPPC GRASSLinks 3.2beta: Public Access GIS: http://ippc2.orst.edu/glinks/
 
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* Two articles by Carl Reed listing several examples of prior art:
 
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** [http://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=28360 Intellectual Property, Patents, and Web Mapping: Historical Perspective]
 
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** [http://www.isprs.org/publications/highlights/highlights0803/33_HL_09_03_Article.interv.pdf Intellectual Property, Patents and Web Mapping]
 
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* [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
 
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= The 474 Patent =
 
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== Introduction ==
 
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[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, filed in 1996 and approved in 1999, believed also to be the subject of current lawsuits.
 
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It seems that geotag dot com, the current owner of the patent, claims that websites using store location mapping are in violation of their patent.
 
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== Blogs and News ==
 
== 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]
 
* [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]
 
* [http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/118873/20110304/google-microsoft-sue-geotag-patents-bing-maps-geo-location.htm Microsoft and Google find friendship in common enemy]
 
* [http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/118873/20110304/google-microsoft-sue-geotag-patents-bing-maps-geo-location.htm Microsoft and Google find friendship in common enemy]
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* [http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2011/03/microsoft-and-google-jointly-sue-geotag.html Microsoft and Google jointly sue GeoTag Inc. in order to invalidate a patent asserted against more than 300 entities]
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== Articles and examples of prior art ==
 
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* ...
 

Revision as of 11:17, 4 March 2011

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