[JDEV] OT: AOL Patents IM (Patent creates IM wrinkle )

[Peter Saint-Andre]

On Tue, 17 Dec 2002, Neil Stevens wrote:

> > Without seeing the actual patent application, I'll toss out the prior
> > art of using "finger" for presence notification, and the "talk" program
> > for instant messages.
> 
> Finger is tied to a specific node on the network, though.  The patent talks 
> about not being tied to one computer on the network.

Yes, this seems to be a possible trap in the patent, since it may even
trip up IRC (/whois reveals your network address) depending on which
lawyers are arguing the case...

Peter

--
Peter Saint-Andre
Jabber Software Foundation
http://www.jabber.org/people/stpeter.php