From: Gregory Alan Bolcer (gbolcer@endtech.com)
Date: Tue Mar 14 2000 - 13:45:12 PST
MS decides to go with RealNames, grabs a 20% chunk[1]. Look out though,
Netword LLC, despite the orignal URN proposal being published in the
public domain in 1994, claims that they have a patent on the concept.[2][3]
It'll be interesting to see if Netword becomes interested in enforcing its
patent now that RealNames has the deep pockets of MSFT, the company everyone
loves to beat the crap out of. I have no doubt this is where it's heading. (Sorry
Nico).
Greg
Last updated: TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2000, 8:30 AM
MS, RealNames to eliminate URL, AOL keywords[3]
from user experience: Microsoft Chief Executive Officer
Steve Ballmer will today announce that the company has
acquired a 20 percent stake in software developer
RealNames. RealNames markets technology similar to
AOL's proprietary, closed keyword system that substitutes
short "keywords" for formal "www" addresses on browsers,
aiding users in their quest to move directly to sections of
corporate Web pages by entering the names of specific
products -- "Windows 2000" or "Steve Ballmer," for
example. The announcement comes just a month after
RealNames revealed that its customer database had been
penetrated, and that user credit card numbers and passwords
may have been accessed.
[1] http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-1571335.html?tag=st.ne.1002.tgif?st.ne.fd.gif.d
[2] http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,13039,00.html
[3] http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?patent_number=5764906
[4] http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,13039,00.html
-- Greg Bolcer email: gbolcer@endtech.com web: http://www.endtech.com work: 714.505.4970 cell: 714.928.5476 fax: 603.994.0516
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