Serious patent applications, with all of their overhead, cost about $15k to $20k. FS filed a lot of patents and I got dragged into the process sometimes. They are currently using two to bash GW Micro using every tool in their arsenal - including patents.
You can go to my blog (www.blindconfidential.blogspot.com) and read posts with titles like "Innovate Don't Litigate" for a more in-depth look at why software patents are not good for anyone. cdh On Nov 17, 2009, at 9:30 PM, hank smith wrote: > what is the cost to file another patent? > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jake" <j.schm...@gmail.com> > To: "MacVisionaries" <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> > Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6:16 PM > Subject: Re: + Buy Apple computers and pay and pay and pay (fwd) > > > Hi > I really don't think Apple would be crazy enough to actually do > something like this. Most large companies file a lot of patent > applications, some are simply concepts that never get used or are > concepts patented to prevent other companies from using them. Leaving > aside what I think about patents, it's good strategy. Apple, despite > sometimes being flaky on certain aspects of their business (app store > approval process, ahem) they're not stupid and they know exactly what > the public's reaction to this would be. I think this is more likely a > strategic patent, something they got wind of another company doing and > wanted to put a stop to. > > > > On Nov 17, 3:04 pm, Karen Lewellen <klewel...@shellworld.net> wrote: >> I got this on another list. They cannot be serious? Can you imagine what >> this would sound like, not to mention the gross intrusion on computing? >> The list of possible places for these ads, is frightening. >> >> Original >> URL:http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/16/intrusive_apple_ad_patent/ >> Apple seeks OS-jacking advert patent >> >> It's an ad ad ad ad world >> >> By Rik Myslewski in San Francisco >> >> Posted in Operating Systems, 16th November 2009 20:27 GMT >> >> Hitachi IT Operations Analyzer: 30-day free trial. >> >> Apple has filed a patent application for an intrusive ad-presentation >> system >> that requires users to acknowledge adverts before getting on with their >> work. >> >> The recent patent filing >> (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=P...) >> carries the unusually straightforward title "Advertisement in Operating >> System." The described system would be buried deep in a device's OS - so >> deep >> that, in the words of the filing, "the advertisement presentation can in >> effect >> 'take over the system' in relevant aspects for a limited time." >> >> The filing specifically describes the system as "disabling" normal >> operation of >> a device while the ad is being presented. The ad - either "visual or >> audible" - >> could be presented in a window on top of all other open windows, in a >> background window, or even in an application window or "inserted in >> content >> from an application program." >> >> If we're deciphering Apple's patentese correctly, this mean that you could >> be >> working in, say, Photoshop, and a new canvas could pop up containing a >> mouth-watering illo of some tasty treat from Frito-Lay - and you couldn't >> get >> back to work until you somehow acknowledged the ad by, for example, >> clicking as >> directed. >> >> Or, for that matter, since an ad could be "inserted in content from an >> application program," you could be merrily coding along in BBEdit when a >> couple >> of lines appeared in your code suggesting that you investigate >> Travelocity's >> latest package deal - and you'd not be able to complete your job until >> you, as >> suggested in the filing, performed one of many possible actions. >> >> These actions might result in the system "causing presentation of a page >> from >> an advertiser associated with the advertisement; recording a user rating >> of the >> advertisement; again presenting the advertisement; sharing the >> advertisement >> with another user; initiating a transaction for user purchase of a product >> that >> eliminates the presentation of advertisements on the device," among other >> possibilities. >> >> As is usually the case in such filings, the range of possible devices is a >> long >> one, "including without limitation, portable and desktop computers, >> servers, >> electronics, media players, game devices, mobile phones, wireless devices, >> email devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), embedded devices, >> televisions, set top boxes, etc." >> >> The appearance of servers on that list is particularly troubling, seeing >> as how >> their inclusion might imply a network-based version of ad delivery and >> enforced >> response. >> >> If you really want to get your conspiratorial juices flowing, remember >> that >> Apple has filed a series of patents relating to location-based content. >> Using >> its OS ad system in tandem with another resent filing >> (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/10/itunes_on_location/), Apple could >> interrupt your use of Poop the World >> (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/poop-the-world/id310125724?mt=8) as you >> passed >> your local purveyor of fine toiletries to let you know that you could pop >> in >> and save big on three-ply tissue. >> >> Although it boggles the mind that Apple would take such a draconian >> approach to >> ad delivery, the authors of this particular patent filing are listed as >> "Jobs; >> Steven; et al." Clearly, the man has ads on the brain. >> >> Note also that Apple is said to be taking a deeper interest in ad-serving >> technologies. For example, Bloomberg reported >> (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=afcIzFP3iNrY) on >> Saturday that the ever-talkative "people familiar with the matter" told it >> that >> Apple had been in acquisition talks with AdMob, the mobile-advertising >> supplier >> that Google bought >> (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/09/google_to_buy_admob/) last week >> for >> $750m. >> >> Apple is not the only operating system vendor displaying an interest in >> acquiring a piece of ad-revenue pie. Microsoft is also providing ad >> opportunities >> (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/13/windows_7_advertisers/) >> that are now available as downloadable desktop themes, but that may soon >> extend >> to Windows 7 borders and sounds, gadgets, and IE 8 add-ons that would send >> users to an advertiser's website. ® >> >> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/14/apple_location_aware_patents/ > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=. > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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