SEARCH NEWS:

 

British Telecom Linking Suit Dealt a Blow

``British Telecom had set out to prove in a U.S. federal court last month that it developed and holds a patent to the hyperlink technology used to whisk Web users from one site to another.

``British Telecom sued Prodigy Communications, one of the oldest U.S. Internet service providers, for what BT believes is unauthorized usage of BT's hypertext technology. Prodigy was the first ISP to allow users to post their own Web pages, and therefore was the first to profit from hyperlinks.

``The judge's ruling Wednesday didn't knock the case out of court, but carefully analyzed the technological claims in British Telecom's patent in an attempt to determine how valid the claim is.

``The ruling, according to legal experts, presents half-a-dozen strong points disputing BT's claims and little in its favor beyond allowing the case to continue to wend its way through court.

``The most damaging point in U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon's ruling is a question about whether BT's patent can legitimately be said to apply to an Internet-based technology, since the patent specifies the use of a single computer terminal.

``…Other legal experts warned that it was too early for hypertext clickers to breathe a sigh of relief.

``…The next trial, assuming the case goes forward, is scheduled for Sept. 9. Prodigy is expected to present evidence that hyperlinks were conceived of well before BT's patent was filed.

``…British Telecom's suit against Prodigy is a test case. If successful, the company is expected to attempt to collect royalties for the use of hyperlink technology from other Internet service providers in the United States…"

< Gaming News