Balthaser Internet Rich Media Patent Creates New Patent Risks For The Web

[mandy]

Balthaser, a little known provider of next generation technology and design solutions for the Internet has successfully won the patent rights entitled to "Methods, Systems and Processes for the design and creation of rich-media applications via the Internet". The potential
implications of this seemingly inconsequential news become more apparent with the claim from its CEO and Chairman Neil Balthaser:

"the patent covers all rich media technology implementations including Flash, Flex, Java, Ajax and XAML and all device footprints which access Rich-Media Internet Applications including desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes and video game consoles. Balthaser will be able
to provide licenses for almost any Rich-Media Internet Application across a broad range of devices and networks."...

full article: http://www.content-wire.com/FreshPicks/Index.cfm?ccs=86&cs=4096

Potentially tens of thousands of businesses--not only software makers employing its business processes but companies offering rich-media on their Websites--could be subject to licensing fees when they use rich-media technology over the Internet...

Rich media is a broad range of interactive digital media that display dynamic motion, exploiting enhanced sensory traits such as video, audio and animation.

"It's kind of unbelievable that [the patent] has such a wide ranging use because it covers so many technologies," says Bola Rotibi, a senior analyst at Ovum, an IT advisory firm in London. If the patent is enforced broadly, she says, "anybody who does anything with rich applications will have to pay royalties to the company."...

full article: http://www.informationweek.com/story/sho...=180206472

[jezebel]

If the patent is enforced broadly, she says, "anybody who does anything with rich applications will have to pay royalties to the company."...

#1
#2 I predict they'll have as much success forcing everyone to pay as Unisys did with its .GIF patent.  None.
#3 Since when are patent office workers allowed to smoke crack on the job. 

[bargainbloodhound]

I'll agree with all 3 of your points. Whover was responsible for approving this patent is a