Deja Vue All Over Again. More Lawsuits

Remember a few years ago when Blackboard claimed to have invented e-learning. (Who invented e-learning? A patent dispute shakes up academic computing) and when Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet (although this seems to be up for some debate.)

In that spirt of “hey I invented…” another crazy is claiming to have invented virtual worlds and is suing everyone to prove they are right (you know it’s the principle not the money.)

Worlds.com is suing because they “invented” virtual worlds. (no they weren’t born out of MOOs or MUDs, they weren’t the next obvious step in the evolutionary process of online interfaces…it was totally invented by World.com…oh thank you Worlds.com for your wisdom and for initially sharing virtual worlds for free…can I now send you a check).

Here is a quote from the article: Worlds.com CEO: We’re ‘Absolutely’ Going To Sue Second Life And World Of Warcraft

Worlds.com CEO Thom Kidrin is putting the entire virtual worlds industry on notice: His company claims the idea of a scalable virtual world with thousands of users is its patented intellectual property, and Thom told us he intends to sue anyone who refuses to enter into licensing negotiations — including giants such as Second Life and World of Warcraft, a property of Activision Blizzard (ATVI).

So the interesting thing is this kind of hubris upsets many people and some with deep pockets. In fact, if you can show that virtual worlds existed before World.com, you can get a cool $50,000. All you need to do is offer proof in the way of “prior art” substantiating the idea that the virtual worlds idea existed prior to 1995. Not a bad return for a little research project.

For more details see…$50,000 Reward Offered For Proof Worlds.Com Patent Lawsuit Is Bogus

Finally, and I hate to do this, but…since I invented Learning…yes no one learned anything before I was born…I am suing everyone who ever learned anything. As proof, e-learning, problem-based learning, and hand held mobile devices designed for learning all appeared after I was born…A coincidence, I don’t think so. Therefore, please send me money to avoid a costly law suit…you’ll be hearing from my lawyer as soon as he catches that ambulance.
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