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Worlds.com Patent Lawsuit Could Set Off Chain Reaction
- iamdave 18y agoAmong all of the possible things I can so easily say about patent law, the thing that needs the biggest reform is what is patentable. The optimism that no idea will be turned away died when someone first decided to patent something that inherent technological capabilities demand; for instance the company that is deciding to file suit regarding the graphical representation of computer functions (or "icon" as I like to call it), and now this. It's a tough call to make, but it demands close scrutiny, and even closer judgment. Ostensibly, on the surface this suit will not hold water since "enabling users to interact in a virtual space through avatars. " has existed long before Feb. 2007 (according to this article is the date the patent was applied for) and that's just the point I'm making right now. If it is something that is just inherent to the technology or market your "invention" is targeted to, deny the patent; capitalizing on natural processes and expected functionality is about as inane as the mass marketing of bottled water.