Say What? Google Patents Its Home Page
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Google, Patent, Home, Page, Simple | Themes: The Internet
Google has patented its "innovative" home page... really.
WebProNews is reporting that Google finally scored a patent on its home page--or rather, its "graphical user interface for a display screen of a communications terminal"--this week after a five-and-a-half-year fight. The big question we're asking is why, as the front page is utterly simplistic and doesn't sport any kind of fancy detail or design. In fact, an amateur web designer could probably generate the same output in class, coding the HTML and Javascript by hand.
However, although the newly christened patent seems frivolous, Google now owns the design of a search engine bar planted firmly in the middle of a page, sporting two buttons underneath. This may cause problems for other search engines using a minimalist layout as well, including rival Yahoo. With the patent now in place, Google has the right to sue any search engine using a similar interface.
The New York Post expands the story somewhat, providing additional details in regards to Google's road to patent heaven. According to the site, the US Patent and Trademark Office hesitated on awarding the prized patent due to questions it had in regards to the website's design; the search engine itself granted the "originality" title that earned its golden patent back in 2006. Yet although Google's front page lacks dazzle, sparkle, and all that Flash-laden glory plaguing most Internet sites, the government eventually decided to grant a separate patent, indicating that the page is an innovative "graphical user interface."
Despite the patent, there are questions on whether the design is actually original, that there may be issues regarding prior art designed by another firm using the same layout. "I would question whether the Google home page was entirely original," one blogger even said. It wouldn't be surprising if Google's new patent will be disputed.
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Well Im guna patent the design of my house, the design of my computer, and some other stuff that no one cares about
Well, I heard that somebody had a patent for using a keyboard to interact with a computer, so I'm not surprised.
Who would want to patent such a plain page???
Stupid patent laws. Now I don't want anybody steeling somebody's else ideas, but this case proves that the patent system is broken.
What a joke!!! Really? Ok I'm going to paten my desktop wallpaper.
Does this mean I can patent how I arrange my computer desk? Monitor in the middle, speakers on either side, keyboard in front of monitor, mouse to right of keyboard, and tower under my desk. Anyone who wants to arrange their desk like that will need to pay me.
Ah! But I made a page with 3 buttons!
(not really)
It is my sincere hope that Google has patented it in the pursuit of protecting itself form some other random schmoe from doing the same and then trying to sue Google. Unfortunately this opens the door for them to knock out anyone else they may see as a threat later on. I don't like it but we will see what happens.
Now they can actually go after people making fake google search engine homepages, i doubt they are going to go hunting for every violation but just like SciFi and its name change now they can actually do something if someone blatantly infringes.
Are you allowed to patent the wheel?
*waiting patiently for the patent of my stick man drawing:
O
/ \
Hell, you can basically patent anything in the States, there should be rules against these generic terms/arrangements/layouts/etc...
Next thing you know, scientists patent water because they can put two hydrogen on an oxygen element.
our patent system is broken and corrupt and costing all of us a lot of money... it needs major reform/overhaul, but which of our outdated systems does not. this is what happens when you have the best government money can buy...
I think Google is just covering their buts here. I highly doubt they want to sue anyone. They just want to make sure some crappy little no name company doesnt sue them in the district court of Eastern Texas.
so now big iunternet giant google joins the paten trolls LOL!
Can anyone think of any prior works that used the exact same layout? Surely at least one of those hideous web pages we all used in the 1990s had a similar design well before google started out!
This is total bullshit. Patent law is such crap. Screw Google.
As if it doesnt look as bad looks the MSDos compared to Win7 or something. Seriously Google is the MSDos of the net. So old and traditionally boring anymore..
I'll patent all the English letters and numeric digits... guess am first to that \^_^/ I'll sue anyone who uses them without written notice from me and I"LL MAKE LOTSA MONEI
no more comments... AM SERIOUS... I"LL SUE
really google...little patent happy, go download the videos on youtube they slap the google copyright right into the video
I would like to patent - "patent".
does this count for blackle.com?
I dont even remember the last time I went to Google.com
Always used Firefox search thing.
InferenceFind had a minimalist UI as well. It was the search engine I used before Google.
and the saying must be said .... again..
the PATENT system needs some serious changing!!
didn't altavista used a similar minimalist design?
anyway, this patent is bogus.
who cares? If google spent millions of $$ on this then I'm sure they had some kind of reason...I can't imagine what it would be, but maybe that's why I don't own a multi-billion dollar search engine. They must be protecting themselves from something.
I understand why. Dictionary.com just switched to the exact same format as google.
Are you allowed to patent the wheel?
Give me a month and we'll see...
Hah, that's funny. I guess Google did it to protect itself from people suing them or to use in a counter suit.
Another reason we should get rid of software patents.
If there is a way I can patent STFU then if anyone sues me I can make the court into a circus and everytime they say to STFU it adds to my counter suite
.