Write Free Software, Pay $203,000 to Patent Holder (Right to Create)

Write Free Software, Pay $203,000 to Patent Holder (Right to Create)

Posted Apr 21, 2006 17:09 UTC (Fri) by wookey (subscriber, #5501)
In reply to: Write Free Software, Pay $203,000 to Patent Holder (Right to Create) by Sombrio
Parent article: Write Free Software, Pay $203,000 to Patent Holder (Right to Create)

Apparently an equivalent patent is granted in the UK too.

The exact claims of this one do not seem to be avaiable on line but the US one claims:

1. A method of operating a digitally controlled model railroad comprising the steps of:
   1. transmitting a first command from a first program to an interface;
   2. transmitting a second command from a second program to said interface; and
   3. sending third and fourth commands from said interface representative of said first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station.

So it's basically claiming "an 'interface' for translating the commands of two programs into commands which a 'digital command station' for model train control can understand", which is pretty outrageous.

The UK office will no doubt have allowed it because 'controlling trains' is a technical effect, and thus 'not software'. If I hadn't been following this stuff for two years already I'd be astonished at the idiocy of it all.

---

(Log in to post comments)