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Not a lawyer, but this seems to be conflating patents with copyrights? i.e. iOS (especially new versions) would fall under copyright protection [0]. PageRank

Not a lawyer, but this seems to be conflating patents with copyrights? i.e. iOS (especially new versions) would fall under copyright protection [0]. PageRank is a patented technique for search. The patent apparently ran out about 6 weeks ago [0]. While both copyright and patents are intended to protect creators for a certain period of time, copyright protects a specific work and patents protect an idea. Patents should generally expire much more quickly since they cover a much broader topic. I also realize both systems are completely crippled at the moment, but I'm trying to stick to what they're at least intended to be. [0]: I'm sure they have tons of patents centered around iOS but this is about protecting the OS itself. [1]: https://pulse2.com/googles-pagerank-patent-expired/ https://pulse2.com/googles-pagerank-patent-expired/

gigatexal 7y ago
Makes sense actually. Yeah I think I am conflating them. The patent is expired but could you argue the index Google is accumulating and aggregating could be copyrighted work in the same way that iOS is? It has taken considerable effort, expense, and expertise to cultivate a useful index. Full disclosure I’ve no idea what I’m talking about just thinking I can’t see what basis people have to force Google to open up their key money maker just because. Other people/companies can create their own indexes with the now expired patent, no?