Link - Google Awarded Geocoding Patent
Since patents are all the rage these days I thought I would toss out the following: Google was awarded a patent today. The patent is for technology that allows a geocode (latitude, longitude) to be generated for a postal addresses. Unlike patent applications (which are what usually get people talking) this is intellectual property that has been officially awarded to Google. The patent application was filed for in September 2003.
I’m not sure how that is patentable, but I’m no patent lawyer. Could this be the start of “GIS Patent Wars”?
4 responses so far ↓
1
GeoMullah
// Aug 24, 2005 at 8:13 pm
I thought that I had read months ago about Microsoft filing a patent for geocoding URLs or something. I’ll see if I can find that article.
2
James Fee
// Aug 24, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Sounds familiar, but there are so many patents these days you lose track.
3
GeoMullah
// Aug 26, 2005 at 7:21 am
I think this was the link to a similar patent by Microsoft. It’s on a Simplified Coorindate System.
4
gaby'O
// Mar 18, 2007 at 1:24 am
Gee, funny, because geosphrere, and Map info
also claims to own the patent?
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