[OpenID] OpenID patents [was Trust + Security @ OpenID]

[Eric Norman]

On Jul 20, 2007, at 10:52 AM, Peter Williams wrote:

> I don't know if there were patents issued on this. But, Id personally  
> consider it an invention if someone now improved this so an OpenID is  
> sent in place of the Host value, and certificates are then chosen with  
> the 2 objects of (1) "strongly authenticating OpenIDs", and, (2)  
> "securing OP discovery".

Sometimes I can't resist an off-topic cheap shot.  Forgive me;
at least I changed the subject line.

Regardless of whether there's an extant patent, and regardless
of whether it's truly patentable, it can't be patented now.
There's prior art.  I just quoted it.

Of course, the USPTO wouldn't know this and from their behavior
as far as software patents go, they could be easily fooled by
nothing more than clever wording.  For more commentary about
this off-topic stuff, but I think it's clever, see

     
http://ejnorman.blogspot.com/2007/05/intellectual-property-is- 
oxymoron.html

Eric Norman