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***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.sfu.ca/~insna/ *****
These patents are probably not worth worrying about. When somebody
applies for a patent, the US Patent Office does a search to make sure
there isn't an existing patent for the same thing. They typically don't
search to see if someone is already using the patented invention
commercially or in research. Apparently you can't patent something
which someone else already does.
And the invention can't be "obvious" to an "average expert in the field"
If someone holding a social network patent (like six degrees) sent a
cease and desist order, the courts would have to decide if the patent
was indeed valid at that time. Patents are frequently determined to be
invalid. Since we as network researchers have been using these methods
for years, and there is documentation of that in our publications,
proposals and e-mails, our research is probably safe.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I've never heard of any of the
people involved in these patents. I get annoyed at people who come out
of nowhere and claim to have invented something when there are scores of
good researchers upon whose shoulders they stand. We should always
acknowledge our predecessors.
Chris McCarty, Survey Director
University of Florida Survey Research Center
Bureau of Economic and Business Research
PO Box 117145
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-7145
Phone: (352) 392-2908 x101
FAX: (352) 392-4739
-----Original Message-----
From: Guy Hagen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 12:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: NYTimes.com Article: Patents: Idea for Online Networking
Brings Two Entrepreneurs Together
***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.sfu.ca/~insna/ *****
To follow up on Stan Wasserman's post about the NYTimes article, I've
pulled
up the patent title and abstract referenced by the article.
My original fear was that someone managed to patent published social
network
analysis algorithms or indices. Although this isn't the case, I still
find
it somewhat troubling - from the core claims as I understand them, the
patent is for (a) a database of emails/communication, and (b) a method
of
making connections among database entities with a geodesic distance of
2+.
Patents generally are not issued in cases where the technology is not
replicable, are easily reverse engineered, based on technology known to
the
public, or are obvious /general knowledge. Would it be worthwhile for
INSNA
to send a letter to the US Patent Office offering expertise in what is
"not
obvious" regarding network science? "Obviousness" is apparently one of
the
trickiest issues that patent examiners face.
Here's a good web primer for the subject of patent requirements:
http://www.bitlaw.com/patent/requirements.html
Regards
Guy
Title: Method and apparatus for constructing a networking database and
system
Abstract:
A networking database containing a plurality of records for different
individuals in which individuals are connected to one another in the
database by defined relationships. Each individual has the opportunity
to
define the relationship which may be confirmed or denied. E-mail
messaging
and interactive communication between individuals and a database service
provider provide a method of constructing the database. The method
includes having a registered individual identify further individuals and
define therewith a relationship. The further individuals then, in turn,
establish their own defined relationships with still other individuals.
The defined relationships are mutually defined.
Link to online patent:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=
/net
ahtml/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=ptxt&s1=6175831.WKU.&OS=PN
/617
5831&RS=PN/6175831
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