[OSGeo-Discuss] Fw: Re: New Google Mapping Patent

[Jo Walsh]

Maybe this is old news, but it surprised me.

----- Forwarded message from Roger Longhorn <ral at alum.mit.edu> -----
To: Bruce.Bannerman at dpi.vic.gov.au, EGIP <european-gi-policy at jrc.it>,
	GSDI Legal-Economic Work Grouup <legal-econ at lists.gsdi.org>
Subject: Re: New Google Mapping Patent

Bruce (and lists),

Thanks for the notice on this raft of Google map-related patents, which 
EGIP members might wish to see at 
http://searchengineland.com/070102-064435.php

According to Search Engine Land, the digital mapping patent already 
awarded (US Patent 7,158,878) is only one applicaiton in the works. 
Others include:

   * Generating and serving tiles in a digital mapping system
     <http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220050270299%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20050270299&RS=DN/20050270299>

   * Generating, storing, and displaying graphics using sub-pixel
     bitmaps
     <http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220050270305%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20050270305&RS=DN/20050270305>

   * Visually-oriented driving directions in digital mapping system
     <http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220050288859%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20050288859&RS=DN/20050288859>

   * Method and apparatus for customizing travel directions
     <http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060064241%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060064241&RS=DN/20060064241>

   * Secondary map in digital mapping system
     <http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060139375%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060139375&RS=DN/20060139375>

   * Combined map scale and measuring tool
     <http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060206264%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060206264&RS=DN/20060206264>

If there is prior art, it will be up to the GIS community, globally, to 
make this known to anyone who wishes to challenge the patents at some 
future date.

Thanks again.

Roger
ral at alum.mit.edu