[mapserver-users] Patent Challenge

[Ed McNierney]

Having been CTO several times and responsible for a few software patent
portfolios, this appears, at first reading, to be a foolishly-granted
patent.  In brief, the "invention" consists of themes and variations on
a client computer generating requests to a map server for a map and an
information server for icon/overlay data and then displaying the
"information" on top of the "map" at the client.

If you're looking for prior art, please don't limit your search to
INTERNET mapping systems, since the invention is not Internet-specific.
It claims the invention of any sort of client/server mapping system of
this style.  I would recommend you look into the products ESRI was
selling starting in the 1970s.  This was CERTAINLY available in a pretty
obvious form in the release of ArcSDE, which also predates 1995.

	- Ed

Ed McNierney
Chief Mapmaker
TopoZone.com
ed at topozone.com
(978) 251-4242


-----Original Message-----
From: imap at chesapeake.net [mailto:imap at chesapeake.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 1:57 PM
To: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: [mapserver-users] Patent Challenge



Hello,

I am forwarding this to the list on behalf of Overton Mapping
concerning interactive GIS systems that pre-dates August 1995.
He was aware of development of the Tiger Map Server (Plewe,Stuber)
in 1995 and Xerox Parc Map Server (Putz) 1993, which we are responding
to.  Specifically they are interested to learn about early systems that
conform to a client-server model.  If anyone has information about other

early systems that meet this criteria, please forward relevant
information 
to Overview Mapping <info at overmap.co.uk> 

-Chris

> Gents
> 
> We are a UK company facing a legal challenge from www.multimap.com who
> claim to have patented interactive GIS mapping. Your early work seems
> to suggest that they were not the first as they claim. I have attached
> a zip file containing the fundamentals of the patent which I wonder if
> you could look at.  If you have evidence that your work pre-dated Aug
> 95 ( the submission date ) I would be most grateful for information.
> This patent could affect the entire GIS community & your assistance is
> most appreciated.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Andrew Overton
> 
> Overview Mapping Ltd