Warning: nothing is allowed to be interesting anymore (in the US anyway)!
Latest software idea patent application is from flickr and it's 'interestingness' 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=%2220060242139%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060242139&RS=DN/20060242139
The Patent wrote: Media objects, such as images or soundtracks, may be ranked according to a new class of metrics known as "interestingness." These rankings may be based at least in part on the quantity of user-entered metadata concerning the media object, the number of users who have assigned metadata to the media object, access patterns related to the media object, and/or a lapse of time related to the media object.
That sounds roughly how any community site with rankings works (Digg, Reddit, Netscape etc.). Oh, and please don't rate this thread, we might get sued. 
Wonder if they'll get this patent in any other countries.
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DDoSAttack posted this at 00:49 — 9th November 2006.
He has: 38 posts
Joined: Oct 2006
Hopefully this dies with the application.
If it doesn't it will never be able to be enforced and if they attempt to enforce it, it would probably be shot down in the courts.
Personally I think that this whole patent/copyright thing is getting WAY out of hand lately!!!
Abhishek Reddy posted this at 05:12 — 9th November 2006.
He has: 3,348 posts
Joined: Jul 2001
I can't see this patent being approved either. If it is, it will forever be a testament to human stupidity.
Yeah, patents are totally overrated.
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JeevesBond posted this at 16:26 — 9th November 2006.
He has: 3,952 posts
Joined: Jun 2002
You're both right, patents are getting stupid. I just hope not many other countries outside the US think they're a good idea, the only way software idea patents are going to succeed is if they're adopted everywhere.
If companies within the US suffer a disadvantage because people can sue them (from outside the country), but they cannot sue in return (because the other company is in a country where they don't have software idea patents) then I think they'll soon be dropped in the US.
Unfortunately governments only seem to listen to lobby groups these days, maybe it's because those are the only opinions they hear?
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