A Patent on Hyperlinks
By: JSkills	Published: 06/21/2000
Yesterday, British Telecom decided to exercise it's patent for - get this - the hyperlink. In one of the most ridiculous patent claims since Amazon.com's claim to owning the OneClick technology, British Telecom has decided to go after American ISP's for royalty fees. The company said it has held a patent for linking online documents since 1976. BT added that it will take legal action in U.S. federal court if the companies, which include America Online, decline to pay the fees. BT did not disclose how much it is asking for. The patent, which details a way of connecting documents accessed online, was discovered four years ago in a routine check. A BT employee, who has since retired, invented it. While BT held the worldwide rights to the link, all but the rights in the United States have expired. Rights in areas outside the United States expired by 1998, BT said. Isn't it interesting how BT is targeting Internet Service Providers (those who have money) and not the actual website authors (who actually make use of hyperlinks)? I guess BT is just trying to suck some money out of some deep pockets for themselves in the true spirit of the American lawsuit system huh? I have an idea. Why doesn't the Greek government take every publisher in the world to court for making use of their patent on the alphabet? Why not join the rest of us on the inside and get all of Goofball.com?
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Ok? (0 replies) started by JSkills (06.21.2000 5:42:10 PM EST) It's not a 30 year patent. They've had the documents since 1976 and the patent, number 4,873,662, was issued to BT in America in 1989 and expires in 2006.

Regarding hyperlinks... (3 replies) started by OliverClozoff (06.21.2000 4:50:56 PM EST) I found the story on ZDNET, they say the patent sat in the PTO for 9 years and is 14 years old; therefore it would have 3 years to go. There is no such thing as a 30-year patent; in the US patents are good for 17 years (I know; I have three of them). At any rate, the patent is NFG since it doesn't even come close to describing hyperlinks as we know them today.

Sorry (0 replies) started by JSkills (06.21.2000 2:02:37 PM EST) It's a 30 year patent that expires in 2006. No shit. JSkills Goofball Staff

Bullshit! (0 replies) started by OliverClozoff (06.21.2000 1:37:05 PM EST) Even if they had a patent, it would have expired 7 years ago.

RIGHT ON!!!!!! (0 replies) started by Anonymous Goofball (06.21.2000 12:26:43 PM EST) That was worth saying twice!

yeah (1 reply) started by Anonymous Goofball (06.21.2000 12:25:22 PM EST) next we'll have the Brits taxing all TOTAL BASTARDS. After all, they did get to that one first too.........

yeah (0 replies)   started by Anonymous Goofball (06.21.2000 12:23:38 PM EST) next we'll have the Brits taxing all TOTAL BASTARDS. After all, they did get to that one first too.........

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