Company claims patent for download apps

http://news.com.com/Company+claims+patent+for+download+apps/2100-1014_3-5233
815.html?tag=nefd.top

Company claims patent for download apps

Last modified: June 15, 2004, 4:49 AM PDT
By Graeme  <mailto:graeme.wearden@cnet.com?subject=FEEDBACK:Company claims
patent for download apps> Wearden 
Special to CNET News.com

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A U.K. company claims to own a number of patents that relate to the process
of downloading software and virus-protection updates over the Internet. 


British Technology Group, or BTG, said Monday that it is in discussions with
several companies, reportedly including Microsoft, in the hope of getting
them to pay royalties. 

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"We have various patents that cover various ways of downloading software
updates over the Web, including virus fixes and product enhancements. These
cover products that are in widespread use today," a BTG representative said.


BTG is seeking both downpayments and future royalties from a "number of
companies" that it claims have already produced products that infringe its
patents. However, the company has not yet divulged details of the patents in
question. 

BTG, which represents inventors and patent owners who want to protect and
enforce their patents, won't reveal which companies it is in negotiations
with. Its patents may cover some of the free virus update services that are
available, which could become difficult to operate if royalties must be paid
to BTG. 

The company, though, played down the suggestion that computer users could be
at risk because of its actions. 

"I can't think of any time that BTG has brought an injunction to take a
product that is on the market off the market," said the company
representative. 

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, Microsoft is one of the
companies being pursued by BTG. 

A Microsoft representative, though, wasn't immediately able to comment on
the issue. 

Microsoft itself has been pursuing a flurry of patents recently. The
software giant was recently awarded
<http://news.com.com/Microsoft+checks+off+patent+win/2100-1008_3-5228693.htm
l?tag=nl> a patent for technology that generates a to-do list from notes
left in source code. 


Graeme Wearden of ZDNet
<http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.zdnet.co.uk%2F&siteId=3&o
Id=2100-1014-5233815&ontId=7343&lop=nl_ex> UK reported from London.