This is a bit shocking. Apple is patenting RSS.
Two patents seem relevant here.
The first deals with variable length posts:
In one embodiment, a user can modify how a feed is displayed, such as which content (and how much) is displayed, in what order, and how it is formatted. In another embodiment, a modification regarding how a feed is displayed is stored so that it can be used again at a later time.
The other seems to deal directly with auto-discovery:
Techniques for detecting, managing, and presenting syndication XML (feeds) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a web browser automatically determines that a web site is publishing feeds and notifies the user, who can then access the feed easily. In another embodiment, a browser determines that a web page or feed is advertising relationship XML, and displays information about the people identified in the relationship XML.
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
We have to fix the software patent problem before it gets out of hand. When companies can patent obvious technical innovations and prevent other companies from moving forward everyone gets hurt.
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Trackback on Mar 8th, 2006 at 2:53 am
Apple patenting RSS! It’s getting out of hands now
I came across a post in Kevin Burton’s Feed Blog that actually revealed a shocking story about Apple trying to patent something that looks RSS.
The two patents in question deals with:-
a) Variable length posts that says; In one embodiment, a use…
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Trackback on Mar 8th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Apple dépose des brevets sur RSS
Deux brevets déposés par Apple dans le domaine de la syndication RSS:
- brevet 1
- brevet 2
Bien évidement ces brevets sont en langue brevet et pas necessairement synthétiques ni faciles à appréhender.
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March 8, 2006 at 7:42 am
Unbelieveable. I thought there was some sort of rule where you couldn’t patent something that was obviously in the public domain/public knowledge (pardon this description as I am not a lawyer). It’s like someone trying to patent an obvious navigation method… oh wait…
March 8, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Ummm… these patents aren’t for RSS. They are for new features, which Apple *did* create, that utilize RSS. Big difference.
March 8, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Brad.
You’re wrong. There were other products that released before Safari that already had these features. They didn’t invent them and even if they DID its offensive that they decided to patent them as they were obvious to a skilled practioner.
Kevin
March 8, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Actually, I’m positive that Apple did create them first… but hey, whatever. My real complaint was that your title is inaccurate. Apple is not attempting to patent RSS, as your title reads… but I guess that your just trying to be purposely inflamatory to get more pageviews and hopefully some AdSense revenue… I don’t think that’s very cool.
Regarding software patents… I agree with your sentiments but believe they are already WAY out-of-hand. They are evil and should be revoked immediately, for the sake of innovation and the future of the industry. I don’t believe, however, that Apple is to blame for software patents either, and can hardly be blamed for taking advantage of them since they are permitted.
March 8, 2006 at 8:05 pm
“Actually, I’m positive that Apple did create them first… ”
The two patents cover autodiscovery and feed content lenght. Autodiscovery was developed openly on blogs. Feed post length somethnig aggregators have done for years.
NewsMonster (which I created 3 years ago) is clear prior art.
> but hey, whatever. My real complaint was
> that your title is inaccurate. Apple is not > attempting to patent RSS, as your title
> reads…
Not really…….. the problem is you can’t get much meaning in a title. “Apple patening technologies which are core to the RSS readin g experience” would have been a lame title :)
> but I guess that your just trying to be
> purposely inflamatory to get more pageviews
> and hopefully some AdSense revenue…
Ha. dude. I make like $20 a month of the Adsense on my blog. :)
“don’t believe, however, that Apple is to blame for software patents either, and can hardly be blamed for taking advantage of them since they are permitted.”
Possibly but its still an important issue to raise. The whole thing is a house of cards and when Apple builds it higher its not necessarily a good thing.
March 9, 2006 at 2:37 pm
While I agree with you wholeheartedly Kevin, the whole software patent process is bogus, and it’s been that way for a very very long time. It needs to be corrected, not abolished like certain OSS proponents would say. If everyone is to believe that there is a place and time for everything. The same applies to software patents. PERIOD.
Now, as to the title. C’mon…you’ve gotta admit, it’s a LITTLE inflamatory. Ok, maybe more than just a little.
Still, the wording in that patent does smell up a stink, Brad. You sure that fish is fresh ?
I think the whole Apple is patenting RSS stuff is ridiculous, unless we’re playing “What’s my line?”( and no, I don’t think either of you are old enough to REMEMBER what that show is about ). It’s a show where people try to guess who the REAL personal behind a fantastic story, is. The fakes can try to deceive, but cannot lie. The genuine person cannot lie, but cannot admit his/her identity. In that show, there’s a famous line that’s always said when the truth is revealed. Here’s the appropriate phrasing for this venue and circumstance:
Will the REAL author of RSS, PLEASE stand up ?!
At which point many of the panel of personalities can feign standing up, but if anyone other than DAVE WINER is left standing, I would cry theft most foul !
SO, how’s about it Dave, will the REAL author of RSS, please stand up. Look at what happened with RIM and NTP. Sure, it’s not necessarily about the money, but that’s what all these software patent cases really need, a landmark case where it’s not about the money, and goliath has to defer to David. ’nuff said.
March 11, 2006 at 7:44 am
If there are features that are honestly original Apple inventions in these patents, I’d like to see someone enumerate them. Because, in reading these, all I see are the things that a lot of people worked on together in public in blogs throughout the past 5 years or so. Feed autodiscovery, feed data storage, feed reader UI, etc.