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MMO patented

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ADHadh
Jan 05, 2009 8:34:00 I know we've all heard about ridiculous patents, like Russian businessman patenting ":-)" sign, but there's a one that might really do much harm.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=wv5-AAAAEBAJ&dq=7,181,690

In short, this thing is patenting the idea of MMO.

Worlds.com already sued NCSoft, what's next? WoW, Guild Wars, Age of Conan and SecondLife shut down? LEGO Universe, Champions Online and PS3 Home canceled? What about all those Asian free to play MMOs?
MMO is one of the few branches of PC gaming that is developing really fast and well, won't this patent kill it?
#2
batshido
Jan 05, 2009 9:28:30 This is pretty much the most ridiculous thing anyone could try to patent at this point. The PA strip sums it up well, I think.

Hell, this thing can go after the Wii (for the Miis and their use in games) and the new Xbox interface as well. If they wanted to be real dicks about it, they could go after practically anything that doesn't run on DOS exclusively.

If this stands up in court (which would take an incredibly technologically challenged judge/jury), then it pretty much drags the information age to a screaching halt.
#3
The_White_Sorcerer
Jan 05, 2009 10:34:16
If this stands up in court (which would take an incredibly technologically challenged judge/jury), then it pretty much drags the information age to a screaching halt.

Dark Ages 2.0?
#4
batshido
Jan 05, 2009 10:50:02
Dark Ages 2.0?

Kind of.

With the notable exception that technological advancement is literally just out of reach and prevented only by some money-grubbing *******s and an idiotic court ruling that enabled them.
#5
_jayne_cobb_
Jan 05, 2009 15:31:57 All NC Soft needs to do is to subpoena as witnesses all the people involved in making games that did this long before Worlds.com filed their patent, or even existed.

I am not a patent lawyer but my understanding is that one cannot patent a concept per se, merely a unique method of realizing that concept. Unless a game maker used worlds.com's specific, unique, and patented method of realizing multiplayer gaming - right down to the code - then they are **** out of luck.
#6
The_White_Sorcerer
Jan 05, 2009 15:41:37 Maybe I'll patent dice-rolling...
#7
pigknight
Jan 05, 2009 18:27:47 I'm going to go off and patent breathing.

BrB, l8r, n00bs
#8
That_Blasted_Somoflange
Jan 06, 2009 4:06:22 I would think that this case should be thrown out. Worlds.com filed their patent in 2000, a year after Everquest came out, and 3 years after Ultima Online (1997).

Damn. Pigknight beat me to the breathing. Oh well, I guess I'll patent pooping. I'll sue anyone who ever goes to the washroom!
#9
Cpt_Micha
Jan 06, 2009 11:33:12 I shall now patent the word Food, as well as the act of eating it.
#10
ranadiel
Jan 06, 2009 11:36:58
I shall now patent the word Food, as well as the act of eating it.

You can't patent a word, that'd be a copyright or trademark. However I am now filing a patent for "an item which provides sustenance to a living body".:D
#11
Ka_D-Argo
Jan 07, 2009 10:13:59 In a similar instance (and i know there are varying stories) Kentucky Fried Chicken had changed their name to KFC because the state of Kentucky put a trademark on the work "Kentucky" to help raise money for the state. In doing so though they lost a lot of other stuff.
#12
oxybe
Jan 07, 2009 10:52:44 can i patent the "removal of organic waste from the human body through a cavity"?

i mean seriously. i want to be the man who patents pooping.
#13
pigknight
Jan 07, 2009 17:02:33 I patent: "Two people pleasuring each other with their own bodies or via special 'toys.' This action may create a parasite that females are attracted to."
#14
That_Blasted_Somoflange
Jan 08, 2009 9:58:01
can i patent the "removal of organic waste from the human body through a cavity"?

i mean seriously. i want to be the man who patents pooping.

Sorry, I already called dibs on that.
#15
oxybe
Jan 08, 2009 10:18:07 actually, i think the wording of mine would also covers peeing, blowing your nose, cleaning your ears and spitting...
#16
erleni
Jan 08, 2009 10:56:36 Stop with this thread. I patented the act of thinking some time ago. You're no more allowed to think without paying me royalties. And do not "think" you can circunmvent my patent....
#17
batshido
Jan 08, 2009 12:44:59
actually, i think the wording of mine would also covers peeing, blowing your nose, cleaning your ears and spitting...

And vomit. You don't want to miss out on that sweet vomit money.
#18
oxybe
Jan 08, 2009 13:24:50
And vomit. You don't want to miss out on that sweet vomit money.

delicious. every drunk frat boy will have to pay me

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ADHadh Jan 05, 2009 8:34:00	I know we've all heard about ridiculous patents, like Russian businessman patenting ":-)" sign, but there's a one that might really do much harm. http://www.google.com/patents?id=wv5-AAAAEBAJ&dq=7,181,690 In short, this thing is patenting the idea of MMO. Worlds.com already sued NCSoft, what's next? WoW, Guild Wars, Age of Conan and SecondLife shut down? LEGO Universe, Champions Online and PS3 Home canceled? What about all those Asian free to play MMOs? MMO is one of the few branches of PC gaming that is developing really fast and well, won't this patent kill it?
#2 batshido Jan 05, 2009 9:28:30	This is pretty much the most ridiculous thing anyone could try to patent at this point. The PA strip sums it up well, I think. Hell, this thing can go after the Wii (for the Miis and their use in games) and the new Xbox interface as well. If they wanted to be real dicks about it, they could go after practically anything that doesn't run on DOS exclusively. If this stands up in court (which would take an incredibly technologically challenged judge/jury), then it pretty much drags the information age to a screaching halt.
#3 The_White_Sorcerer Jan 05, 2009 10:34:16	If this stands up in court (which would take an incredibly technologically challenged judge/jury), then it pretty much drags the information age to a screaching halt. Dark Ages 2.0?
#4 batshido Jan 05, 2009 10:50:02	Dark Ages 2.0? Kind of. With the notable exception that technological advancement is literally just out of reach and prevented only by some money-grubbing *******s and an idiotic court ruling that enabled them.
#5 _jayne_cobb_ Jan 05, 2009 15:31:57	All NC Soft needs to do is to subpoena as witnesses all the people involved in making games that did this long before Worlds.com filed their patent, or even existed. I am not a patent lawyer but my understanding is that one cannot patent a concept per se, merely a unique method of realizing that concept. Unless a game maker used worlds.com's specific, unique, and patented method of realizing multiplayer gaming - right down to the code - then they are **** out of luck.
#6 The_White_Sorcerer Jan 05, 2009 15:41:37	Maybe I'll patent dice-rolling...
#7 pigknight Jan 05, 2009 18:27:47	I'm going to go off and patent breathing. BrB, l8r, n00bs
#8 That_Blasted_Somoflange Jan 06, 2009 4:06:22	I would think that this case should be thrown out. Worlds.com filed their patent in 2000, a year after Everquest came out, and 3 years after Ultima Online (1997). Damn. Pigknight beat me to the breathing. Oh well, I guess I'll patent pooping. I'll sue anyone who ever goes to the washroom!
#9 Cpt_Micha Jan 06, 2009 11:33:12	I shall now patent the word Food, as well as the act of eating it.
#10 ranadiel Jan 06, 2009 11:36:58	I shall now patent the word Food, as well as the act of eating it. You can't patent a word, that'd be a copyright or trademark. However I am now filing a patent for "an item which provides sustenance to a living body".:D
#11 Ka_D-Argo Jan 07, 2009 10:13:59	In a similar instance (and i know there are varying stories) Kentucky Fried Chicken had changed their name to KFC because the state of Kentucky put a trademark on the work "Kentucky" to help raise money for the state. In doing so though they lost a lot of other stuff.
#12 oxybe Jan 07, 2009 10:52:44	can i patent the "removal of organic waste from the human body through a cavity"? i mean seriously. i want to be the man who patents pooping.
#13 pigknight Jan 07, 2009 17:02:33	I patent: "Two people pleasuring each other with their own bodies or via special 'toys.' This action may create a parasite that females are attracted to."
#14 That_Blasted_Somoflange Jan 08, 2009 9:58:01	can i patent the "removal of organic waste from the human body through a cavity"? i mean seriously. i want to be the man who patents pooping. Sorry, I already called dibs on that.
#15 oxybe Jan 08, 2009 10:18:07	actually, i think the wording of mine would also covers peeing, blowing your nose, cleaning your ears and spitting...
#16 erleni Jan 08, 2009 10:56:36	Stop with this thread. I patented the act of thinking some time ago. You're no more allowed to think without paying me royalties. And do not "think" you can circunmvent my patent....
#17 batshido Jan 08, 2009 12:44:59	actually, i think the wording of mine would also covers peeing, blowing your nose, cleaning your ears and spitting... And vomit. You don't want to miss out on that sweet vomit money.
#18 oxybe Jan 08, 2009 13:24:50	And vomit. You don't want to miss out on that sweet vomit money. delicious. every drunk frat boy will have to pay me