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

[Landon Blake]

I found this surprising as well.

Take for example the patent for using a secondary map in a digital
mapping system. This seems like a pretty basic cartographic idea to me.

This just goes to show how messed up the patent system is in America, at
least when it comes to computer technology.  You can walk out of the
patent office with rights to just about anything you can fill out an
application for.

Landon

-----Original Message-----
From: mail_discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:mail_discuss-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Jo Walsh
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 6:25 AM
To: geowanking at lists.burri.to
Cc: mail_discuss at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [OSGeo-Discuss] Fw: Re: New Google Mapping Patent

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=PG
01&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=PG
01&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=PG
01&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=PG
01&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=PG
01&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=PG
01&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

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