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To: JohnG who wrote (13215)	6/25/2000 10:41:00 AM
From: JohnG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13582

BT claims hyperlink patented. wants royalties from ISP's JohnG Outrage in US as web technology is found to have been patented E-finance: special report Neil McIntosh Wednesday June 21, 2000 British Telecom confirmed yesterday that it is pressing ahead with plans to exploit a patent it holds for one of the main building blocks of the world wide web, and land potentially huge bills at the doors of US internet companies. The company has sent letters to US internet service providers telling them of its claim to "hyperlinks" - the technology which allows web users to move from one page to another by clicking on text or pictures. BT is inviting those ISPs to open discussions on licensing the technology, which is covered by patent number 4,873,662, issued to BT in the US in 1989. The patent runs until 2006. One British-based intellectual property expert warned yesterday that the move could lead to "the most almighty bust-up" which could paralyse the US portion of the internet. BT's claim on the technology goes back to research conducted in the 1970s. BT applied for patents relating to hypertext linking in 1976 but these were not granted in the US until 1989. The patents were granted for 17 years. Patents taken out at the same time elsewhere in the world have now expired. A spokesman for BT said yesterday that the company had told major US-based ISPs about the intellectual property claim, and asked them to discuss the possibility of taking out licences. ISPs have responded, but the spokesman refused to discuss the nature of the responses, other than to say negotiations were continuing. "There are many very significant players in the US hi-tech economy making billion dollar-plus revenues a year out of intellectual property - IBM and companies of that scope," he said. "BT is a major world player in terms of its intellectual property - we have over 15,000 patents - and we do things to exploit those commercially. "This is something we think could create reasonable royalties for BT. As to how much, that will be something we will discuss with ISPs." As the US internet woke up to the news yesterday, there was an immediate explosion of indignation online. At the tech-savvy Slashdot bulletin board, some users initially thought the news that the web's key technology was patented was a late April Fool's joke. Disbelief, however, quickly gave way to anger - at BT for attempting to exploit its patent, and at the US patent office which delayed processing BT's application by nine years. British legal experts said that they could see few legal hurdles to prevent BT from cashing in on its patent. Robin Whaite, intellectual property partner at law firm Linklaters, said BT's new-found desire to protect its patent, years after it was issued, is not unusual. It was, he says, an example of a "submarine patent" which "pops up when you least expect it". He added that, because of the relatively recent birth of the commercial worldwide web, BT should not have difficulty in extracting "reasonable royalties" stretching back six years. "This could be a huge case," he said. Ben Goodger, an intellectual property expert at British law firm Willoughby and Partners, said he knew of no reason why BT should not be able to enforce its patent. "What seems to be emerging is that if I went and put a website up and made a hypertext link I would not have to go to BT cap in hand and pay money," he said. "But it's AOL and other massive players on the internet that BT would be targeting with a commensurately huge licence fee. "Once you are aware that you are infringing, the damages position becomes much worse. BT are obviously getting good advice; under US law, if you carry out what is called 'wilful infringement' you are liable for treble damages. "What I would ask is: is it really in their commercial interest, given the culture of the internet? Over-assertion of intellectual property is very unpopular, and people will find a way to work around it." guardianunlimited.co.uk.

To: JohnG who wrote (13215)	6/25/2000 11:01:00 AM
From: JohnG	Respond to of 13582

AOL claimed 21 million members in Feb. How many will want a phone with QCOM ASIC's. How many Sprint customers that are not AOL members will want a phone that can access AOL web site. BIGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!! JohnG o: tradesman who wrote (38979) From: Captain Jack Tuesday, Feb 29, 2000 10:26 PM ET Reply # of 39949 From "The Bull Market Wireless Investor".. SPRINT PCS AND AMERICA ONLINE TO OFFER AOL WIRELESS Sprint PCS (PCS, $52, up 3), the nation's fastest growing wireless service provider, and America Online, Inc. (AOL), the world's leading interactive services company, today announced a strategic agreement that will deliver "AOL Wireless" content and services to millions of consumers via Sprint PCS Internet-ready phones. Beginning this summer, Sprint PCS customers nationwide will have clear access to many of AOL's best-known features and content directly on Sprint PCS Internet-ready Phones. America Online will debut its "AOL Wireless" services on the Sprint PCS Wireless Web. Under the agreement, America Online will have premier placement on the front screen of the Sprint PCS Wireless Web. By using a Sprint PCS Internet-ready Phone, AOL's more than 21 million members and tens of millions of users of its Web-based brands will be able to access popular features such as e-mail, news, weather and stock quotes. AOL Wireless, a significant component of the AOL Anywhere strategy, will bring AOL's most popular features and services to a wide range of wireless devices. AOL members and users of its other Web brands will be able to easily extend their interactive experience to the wireless platform in a con venient, easy-to-use and valuable way. Users will be able to check their e-mail, exchange Instant Messages, and access AOL's other popular and consumer-friendly features and brands. COMMENT: It is pretty self-explanatory what a big deal this is. AOL can bring bigger numbers to the wireless web than any other company. How much of their content will translate to the small screen is yet to be seen, but with 21 million members in love with AOL's ease of use, you know they are going to make their content as accessible via mobile phone as it is via computer. And don't think it slipped AOL's mind that Sprint just happens to be about to be merged with MCI WorldCom. AOL is more than aware that the combined companies with make a very powerful partner down the road.

To: JohnG who wrote (13215)	6/25/2000 11:04:00 AM
From: JohnG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13582

More AOL anywhere info from old links. JohnG View Next 10 Messages \| Respond \| Previous \| Next To: Kevin Podsiadlik who wrote (38962) From: stephen karasick Monday, Feb 28, 2000 5:22 PM ET Reply # of 39949 AOL Inks Slew of Wireless Communications Pacts Leading Internet service provider America Online today said it had struck a half-dozen agreements with major players in the wireless communications arena, furthering its effort to liberate its Web services from the tether of telephone lines. AOL, which is buying media giant Time Warner, said its new wireless partners include cellular phone makers Motorola and Finland's Nokia Corp.; wireless device maker Research in Motion Ltd. of Canada; wireless service providers Sprint PCS and BellSouth; and paging services company Arch Communications Inc. The agreements are part of AOL's ``AOL Anywhere" strategy, and will allow its 21 million members and millions of others to use mobile devices to access AOL e-mail, instant messaging and several other of AOL's services, such as news, financial information, movie information and driving directions, the Reuters news agency reported. AOL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Case said: "Today's wireless announcements are a major step forward for the AOL Anywhere strategy -- allowing consumers to be connected anywhere any time with the ease that they have become accustomed to with the AOL service on a PC." ``There's no question that we're on the eve of an explosion in consumers' move to wireless and how they use interactive devices," Case said. ``Our goal is to ensure that this wireless revolution will be both easy and accessible for our 21 million members, plus the tens of millions of consumers that use of our Web brands and millions of other consumers accessing the Internet via the wireless platform."