So it seems this company has recently made a patent that might cause problems for small web hosting companies making use of subdomain autocreation software:

http://thewhir.com/features/subdomain.cfm

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&r=1&l=50&f=G&d=PALL&s1=6687746.WKU.&OS=PN/6687746&RS=PN/6687746

It is quite interesting to see how the PTO can approve items that the rest of the world already knows exists previously.

Here are copies of the letter:

http://161.58.167.50/letter.jpg
http://www.hosthideout.com/attachment.php?s=05090e6c5ba75a540b1064e656957a8a&postid=49875

Here are the threads from which it came:

http://www.hosthideout.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8603
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=bc39e0adab4b3a8bde9816f4e60e9d39&threadid=248809&highlight=ideaflood

Maybe we should patent the ability to POST and GET data on the web?

Hi Paul!

This could become (or already is) a huge legalistic mess! It means that what Internet is and the many things it does will become legally defined?? EEEEE!

This reminds me of the new frontier of North America a few hundred years ago, when remote hosting countries layed false (but legal according to them) claims to vast tracts of land they had never been to nor would ever visit! They then sold titles and deeds to anyone who was interested.

Looks like a huge tug-of-war is brewing that could have tremendous impact on the entire Internet. I need to read more on this subject.


Best regards from Larry

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

Kind of like selling property on the moon.

Yes! But they are very very serious about it. This could cause more harm than good. Does IdeaFlood have lots of clout? Or, will they endlessly lobby to get changes made for their profit?

_________________

Microsoft MVP Consumer Security 2006, 2007 & 2008

http://nukecops.com/article-1826-nested-0-0.html

georgiaguy thinks that 'prior art' will prove the patent unenforceable.