New
Business Method Patents: Protecting the
Process
Featured in Pittsburgh Tech-Biz, Rick Byrne,
director, The Webb Law Firm, points out that the patent
system encourages people to share their inventions for
public benefit. In return, they get patents for certain
things and protection for their intellectual property. Byrne
explains how new business-method patents depart from past
practices by protecting more intangible technologies and
processes -- rather than physical objects. Demand for
business-method patents is rapidly increasing and the U.S.
Patent Office has been inundated with requests. Examples of
processes include the hyperlink by British Telecom, online
coupons by Shopwisely.com and the consumer-driven pricing
method initiated by Priceline.com. Reprints of the article
are available upon request by contacting The Webb Law Firm
at 412-471-8815 or contacting
medialine@webblaw.com.
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