OK, so we've all heard of the bonkers patents squabbles between Apple and the rest of the world, Google and the rest of the world (but mainly Apple), and numerous patent trolls out there. But a throwaway comment in a BBC article on 3D printing patent litigation had me worried:
quote:
Although this is the first case of its kind Kickstarter has been involved in, it is not the only lawsuit it is fighting.
The firm is also embroiled in a dispute with ArtistShare - another crowd-funding site - about the rights to a patent describing how database software can be used to raise cash for creative works.
The summary of the patent awarded to ArtistShare:
quote:
The present invention is directed to a system and method for raising financing and/or revenue by artist for a project, where the project may be a creative work of the artist. The method including registering, by at least one artist, with a centralized database, at least one or more projects, offering, by the at least one artist, an entitlement related to the artist in exchange for capital for the project of the artist. The method and system may also include searching, by an interested party, the centralized database, for the least one artist, registering, by the interested party, with the centralized database and accepting the offer by the interested party for the entitlement related to the project. The capital may then be forwarded to the artist and the entitlement provided to the interested party.
It seems to me that the patent is largely awarded on the basis of using a database to collect and search data, with input from external persons on the interwebz. Isn't that a tad 'all encompassing'? Can we expect Matt's arse to be hauled into this?
 bastard by name
bastard by nature
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