Uh oh….. AOL has just been granted a broad patent covering the concept of instant messenging networks. In theory they could now use this to sue Microsoft and Yahoo and the other instant messenging networks for infringement. I’m very curious to see how they handle this one. I’m also happy to point out that it was ICQ, the original commercial pioneer of IM, that filed the original patent claim. Take note all you hosers who split over to AIM.
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Dave's Place/Metamusing 
Good thread on mefi about this today. Apparently the old heads checked in with proof of ealier IM progs that should have derailed the patent process.
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Hmm, very interesting. I mean, I know about Talk and things like that on unix systems, I wonder if that’s what they were discussing. Off to check it out, thanks for the heads up.
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