Bone-headed patent lawsuit number 573482: a company called WebMap Technologies is suing a host of technology companies over an online map patent that was issued over 5 years ago, reports Law360 (requires registration).
The patent (ID US6772142) is titled “Method and apparatus for collecting and expressing geographically-referenced data” and covers a web-based implemented system in which observers may pinpoint locations on a scalable map in order to fix data by latitude and longitude and to collect data describing that location.
Who’s the company suing over this? None other than Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Travelocity, CitySearch, IAC/Interactivecorp, Yellowpages.com, The Washington Post Company, Ticketmaster, Zagat Survey and City Accommodations Network.
Wait, all of these? Yes, all of them.
The suit claims Google has been aware of the patent-in-suit for “some time” prior to the filing of the lawsuit and is seeking enhanced damages for willful infringement. WebMap is also reserving the right to allege willfulness against any of the other defendants that continue to infringe moving forward.
Here’s the funny part: WebMap Technologies doesn’t seem to be in business anymore, and webmap.com – which used to be the address for its corporate website – now features nothing but a GoDaddy placeholder. Judging from this CNET article from February 2001, WebMap was a startup from before the dotcom bubble burst earlier this decade that was backed by at least $13 million in venture capital funding.
I’m still trying to pin down what happened to the Boston/Tel Aviv company and if it’s effectively this one that is taking the companies above to court in Texas, but it’s safe to say the WebMap that was referenced in the CNET article didn’t exactly go anywhere. The company’s former CEO, Michael Iron, went on to found and lead a p2p video platform called StreamSoft. Iron is currently listed as director of ILCU, an event-sharing network (but his e-mail address bounces).
We’re trying to get in touch with some of the people that used to be affiliated to WebMap Technologies and will update if they get back to us.
Update: apparently, the WebMap Technologies that was led by Michael Iron in the late nineties and early 2000 wasn’t the same WebMap Technologies that filed the lawsuit – the confusion arose because of the fact that the names were exactly the same, as well as the field both startups operated in (digital mapping). So let me make this entirely clear: the former WebMap Technologies nor Michael Iron has got anything to do with this lawsuit. To my knowledge, the ‘new’ WebMap Technologies doesn’t have a website or any contact details so we’re still trying to get more information about the suit in other ways.
Patent Troll Definition – http://en.wikip...ki/Patent_troll
LOL…patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc…
They are so pre-techcrunch.
sounds like a locator patent. simply genius.
You seem surprised that a dead companies patent is being asserted. It was an asset of the dead co just like the Aeron chairs they sold at an auction. Except it has a life of 20 years to keep others from practicing the invention.
Sales of patents happen all the time that these patents are picked up at auction. Patent trolls often the buyer or people like Intellectual Ventures (former CTO of Microsoft). There is a market for them and soon there will be a market for buying derivatives of the patent http://www.ipxi.com/ipxi/
Wow. These guys are going to go after anyone storing and displaying geotagged ugc on a map. If they win, the entire geolocation movement will be set back. They won’t though. It reminds you how much we should all praise Google for the free Maps API.
This guy has been hammering Google for years. I saw him approach the real estate head one time (something “McCarthy”) at a conference. Just as McCarthy was coming of the stage this guy accosted him and I heard him hammering him about “patent” infringement, etc. Hilariously, within a few seconds, he was offering a very competitive licensing deal. What a sham…
seems like there are one of two exit strategies being followed by web companies:
1) Get bought by Google
or
2) Sue Google
Why do you guys instantly villanize anyoen that may have a valid patent suit against these multi-billion dollar cvompanies?
You have some nerve. You have absolutly no idea what an inventor goes through to get an idea off the ground all to only have some multibillion companies come in and use an idea that already was in use.
Loose the argument of whether a company is currently active or not. Just because a company does not have the fortune of being a billion dollar outfit DOES NOT mean that someone did not bust their asses trying.
TechCrunch does not have any Patents I figure, nor may have never tried to get one. Maybe for the Crunchpad but how would Mike feel if Apple totally clones the Crunchpad design after all the hard work?
Stop villinizing hard working people with an idea because they are not Google or such.
There are no such thing as Patent Trolls, only Patent Rapists.
Sorry for typos, on an iTouch.
Robin, stop your witchhunt and let Google fight their own legal battles dude.
Google and the 14 other companies, you mean.
William, though I agree with your statement, you have to agree that this patent seems a little loose around the edges. “Method and apparatus for collecting and expressing geographically-referenced data” being patented 5 years ago seems a little fishy to me.
It is not this company’s fault; it is the fault of the US paten office. However, I think your comments sticking up for this company is unwarranted in this situation.
Fight the good fight, but realize a troll from a real patent!
I have a patent for landing on Mars. I can’t actually get to Mars myself… but if anyone ever does… I’M SUING!!!
Those who can not do sue.
suing is the american way.
its not wrong, if they’re right.
cry me a river.
Oh god. So let me get this straight… you have a map… and there is INFORMATION on this map?!? That’s pure genius! It’s both inventive AND original!
Sarcasm aside… is it time for someone to sue the US Patent office for not doing *their* job? It’s very clear that they are at least half responsible for the mess we are all in.
The vitriolic anti-patent anti-IP movement that runs through the contemporary silicon valley culture is a truly weird bad joke. There’d be no valley without strong patent law and yes, litigation.
The only thing I can figure is, maybe this whole anti-IP thing is a fiendishly clever misinformation campaign by big corporations — they are successfully convincing a large swatch of the entrepreneurial inventor and artist community that IP protection is stupid or wrong, while making sure that they themselves have the best possible IP protection
ditto the venture community — maybe they oppose IP protection in public to ensure that their portfolio companies which steal IP get penalized less?
Damn, I remember using WebMap. I actually was looking for it a few weeks ago. Wonder what happened with it–it was such an interesting way of searching the web.
I have the patent for coming up with bogus patents and I’m going to sue this company.
good for them. They had a vision and filed for a patent and they deserve loyalties.
Patents to some extant prevent the rip-off artists in the valley that are endorsed by TC.