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

[Christopher Schmidt]

On Wed, Jan 10, 2007 at 11:02:05AM +0000, Lester Caine wrote:
> Jo Walsh wrote:
> 
> >   * 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>
> 
> Interesting point on prior art from the openstreetmap list ( who run a 
> slipply map ) Dave ? pointed out that the prior art is Google itself - 
> how much was working when it launched the betas in Feb 05 - the month 
> BEFORE the patent application ?

The US Patent System allows you to file 'provisionals' that protect
inventions for up to a year before filing an actual patent, and this
application claims the benefits of such a provisional:

"[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Nos. (not yet known), filed Feb. 7, 2005, titled "Method and
Apparatus for Generating Tiles in a Digital Mapping System" <attorney
docket number 159164-0008 (P005Z)>, 60/567,946, filed May 3, 2004, and
60/555,501, filed Mar. 23, 2004."

So, anything that was claimed in the "Method and Apparatus for
Generating Tiles in a Digital Mapping System" is patentable if there is
no prior art before Feb, 2005.

Regards,
-- 
Christopher Schmidt
Web Developer