http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5108918.html

Firstly, it's strange that AT&T would patent something only spammers use and secondly, haven't spammers been morphing messages since the very first spam blockers? I wonder how strongly AT&T's new patent would stand up against prior art...

- Frank.

Hmm telecoms companies seem to collect some very interesting patents:)

Maybe they look at it as a way to sue spammers....

I'm going with this conspiracy theory!


Fight the Theory!

I wonder how strongly AT&T's new patent would stand up against prior art...


Frank

they probably have prior art also, What seems to happen is that these big telecoms comapnies hold many patents, however not knowing a use for them they get put in a cupboard and forgotten about...sometimes they leave the patents to long and they become unenforcable, ATT prob have prior art and the new patent will prob just be to legitimise the prior art and extend the patent.

Until someone reminds them about the patents lol:)

A year or so ago a big telecom tried to call on the patent for Hyperlinks that they held, unfortunately for them and fortunately for us they had left it to long and missed the boat on it.

We've had a system operational for ages.

I'll claim prior usuage if they try and sue us.

Maybe they look at it as a way to sue spammers....[/b][/quote]


Exactly what is going on here. Adding weapons to sue spammers if other methods do not work.

The speculation is by patenting a way to get around anti-spam, when spammers utilize that system, AT&T can sue them for infringement. If that's true, it's innovative.