Sunday, February 20, 2005

Guest Post: Is Google's AutoLink Patent Pending -- By Microsoft?. TheoDP writes: While Google pooh-poohed any comparison of its controversial AutoLink feature to Microsoft's SmartTag technology, Google's generation of dynamic links to maps and use of ISBN numbers to trigger links to booksellers cover the same territory as Microsoft's 2000 patent application for Providing electronic commerce actions based on semantically labeled strings, whose sole inventor - Jeff Reynar - was the lead SmartTag Program Manager while at MS and is reportedly now a Google Product Manager who's being credited as AutoLink's creator. Reynar's patent applications that have been assigned to Microsoft, including one for Smart Links and Tags, describe a world of 'recognizer' plug-ins that automatically look at every document a user creates, receives or views, transmitting messages to 'action' plug-ins - and even to the plug-ins' authors - that can be used to decide what info you'll be presented with, what options you'll be given, what price you'll pay for goods, and even who you'll be permitted to buy from. [Dan Gillmor on Grassroots Journalism, Etc.] 9:39:44 PM    comment []

For Users, Napster of Old Is Just a Few Tweaks Away. It was clear last week that Napster, which sells legal music downloads, still has less-than-perfect controls over illegal copying. By DAVID F. GALLAGHER. [NYT > Technology] 9:39:19 PM    comment []

Condensed version of Roland's Sunday Smart Trends #46. Jazz composer Maria Schneider took home a Grammy without selling a single copy in a record store Source: Reuters, via CNET News.com, February 13, 2005 Post-It Notes Go Mobile Source: John Blau, IDG News Service, February 7, 2005 Diamonds in the Rough in Microsoft's Social Computing Group Source: Bernard Moon, AlwaysOn Network, February 10, 2005 8:54:10 AM    comment []

A Sketch That Keeps on Giving. One of Francis Crick's first sketches of the structure of DNA has recently been put online by the National Library of Medicine. By PETER EDIDIN. [NYT > Science] profiles.nlm.nih.gov 8:52:08 AM    comment []

BTD SUNDAY COMICS [Begging To Differ] 8:43:31 AM    comment []

One from Donna: LawMeme blogger/Creative Commons & EFF alum/EULA critic James Grimmelmann, sharing the terms of the Best. Clickwrap. Evar: "'Incoherence Copyright (c) 2004-2005 Greg Hazel and Steven Hazel. All rights reserved. By installing this software, you agree that you have seen this copyright notice.' And that's it." [Copyfight] 8:43:26 AM    comment []