[mapserver-users] Patent Challenge

[Steve Lime]

Let 'em screw around with ESRI and the other big boys. It's certainly one way to get their website noticed. I feel badly for any company that has to defend themselves against something like this.

As to being first, no way. Steve Putz and his application at Xerox where the first I ever saw do this stuff and that's what got me going. Heck in '93/'94 I was using ArcInfo/ArcPlot via Mosaic. MapServer has its roots in that system.

Anyway, gotta go patent digital scalebars, reference maps, and any other interesting feature I can come up with...

Perhaps we should trademark MapServer and MapScript.

Steve

Stephen Lime
Data & Applications Manager

Minnesota DNR
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-297-2937
>>> "Ed McNierney" <ed at topozone.com> 03/27/02 19:22 PM >>>
Steve -

They're obviously proud of it - there's a link to the document right at
the bottom of the home page at www.multimap.com

	- Ed

Ed McNierney
Chief Mapmaker
TopoZone.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Lime [mailto:steve.lime at dnr.state.mn.us]
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:51 PM
To: imap at chesapeake.net; mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
Subject: Re: [mapserver-users] Patent Challenge


Anybody got a reference to the patent those guys hold?

Steve

Stephen Lime
Data & Applications Manager

Minnesota DNR
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-297-2937

>>> <imap at chesapeake.net> 03/27/02 12:57PM >>>

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