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

[Ralph Meijer]

On Thu, Dec 19, 2002 at 10:22:07AM -0600, Peter Saint-Andre wrote:
> 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...

rwho?

ralphm