[registrars] Domain name related patents and patent applications

[Jim Archer]

What is going to happen when someday ICANN decided to dictate that we all 
have to do something someone else has a patent on?


--On Friday, September 05, 2003 7:01 PM +1000 Bruce Tonkin 
<Bruce.Tonkin at melbourneit.com.au> wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I have been doing some searching of the US patents database to see what
> patents have been granted or applied for lately in the area of domain
> names.  I support the idea of patents that protect a truly original
> idea, especially when the idea is a result of years of expensive
> research.  However, it seems the IT industry is now buried in many
> patents that seem to me fairly obvious extensions of existing knowledge.
> Some of the ones below look legitimate, but others are questionable.
>
> I would be interested to hear from others if there are other patents or
> patent applications I should be aware of.  It maybe worth considering
> forming a group to be able to challenge some patent applications, where
> there is clearly prior art that should invalidate the patent
> application.
>
> Here is my list - starting with patents that have been recently granted.
>
>
> GRANTED PATENTS
>
> (1) US patent number 6560634 B1; Date of patent: 6 May 2003; Filed: 13
> August 1998
> Title: Method of determining unavailability of an Internet domain name
> Inventor: Larry Broadhurst; Assignee: Verisign
>
> Abstract:
>
> Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the
> present invention provide an improved query server that overcomes the
> shortcomings of existing domain name searching techniques by performing
> a multitude of searches simultaneously, transparent to the user.
> Specifically, the improved query server searches for existing domain
> name records in various domains and then displays the results in a
> formatted manner, thus eliminating the need for a user to perform
> individual searches.
>
> My Summary:
> - checking domain name availability by querying multiple DNS servers and
> displaying the results
>
>
>
> (2) US patent number: 6298341 B1; Date of patent: 2 Oct 2001; Filed: 22
> September 1999
> and
> US patent number: 6519589 B2; Date of patent: 11 Feb 2003; Filed: 10
> July 2001
>
> Title: System and method for generating domain names and for
> facilitating
> registration and transfer of the same
>
> Inventors: Michael Mann and Ronald Fitzherbert; Assignee:
> Raredomains.com
>
>
> Abstract:
> New and improved systems and methods for generating and facilitating
> registration and transfer of available domain names. The systems and
> methods include and involve a data storage facility for storing at least
> one adjunct term for use in generating at least one registerable domain
> name, and a processor arrangement which is coupled to the data storage
> facility and which is configured to be accessed by a user system via an
> electronic data network, to receive at least one root term from the user
> system, to concatenate at least one root term with at least one adjunct
> term to generate at least one candidate domain name, to query a data
> source to determine if the candidate domain name(s) is available for
> registration and/or transfer, and to notify the user system of the
> candidate domain name(s) when the same are available for registration
> and/or transfer.
>
> My summary:
> - adding prefixes and suffixes to a word supplied by the user, from a
> list of pre-stored prefixes and suffixes
> (e.g user supplied word: beer; derived words: freebeer, beerhall)
>
>
> PATENT APPLICATIONS
>
> (3) US patent application number: 2002/0091827 A1; Date of publication:
> 11 July 2002;
> Filed: 1 November 2001
>
> Title: Domain name acquisition and management system and method
> Status: Docketed New Case - Ready for Examination; Status Date: 27 Jan
> 2003
>
> Inventors: Raymond King, Ron Wiener, Len Bayles
>
> Abstract:
> A preferred embodiment of the present invention can accept an indication
> of a domain name or set of domain names from interested entity. The
> desired domain names are names that an interested entity desires to
> register through a domain name registration system or systems, such as
> that operated by a registry-accredited registrar. The system can closely
> monitor the domain name registry or registrar databases used to provide
> domain name resolution or registration over a distributed network, such
> as the Internet, and determine the expiration or availability of the
> name or names supplied by the interested entity. When a desired domain
> name appears to be available, the system can register or reregister the
> domain name through a domain registration service. If there is more than
> one interested entity for a domain name, the system can also facilitate
> an auction for the domain name.
>
> My Summary:
>
> This patent application is a great read.  There are 68 claims in the one
> application!
> Consists of a customer requesting a particular name, and the system
> determining when the name is likely to expire, periodically checking for
> availability, and requesting registration of the name.   The process of
> requesting the name can consist of multiple requests sent to the
> registry, or through multiple registrars.
> The method of domain name management consisting of monitoring RRP
> transactions or monitoring WHOIS information for changes in the domain
> name registration.
> The method of auctioning a succeeding registration of a domain name.
>
> This essentially seems to be the technology used in snapnames.com and
> pool.com
>
>
>
>
> (4) US patent application number: 2002/0091703 A1; Date of publication:
> 11 July 2002;
> Filed: 1 November 2001
>
> Title: Registry-integrated internet domain name acquisition system
>
> Status: Docketed New Case - Ready for Examination; Status Date: 28 Aug
> 2002
>
> Inventor: Len Bayles
>
> Abstract:
> A preferred embodiment of the present invention integrates a domain name
> monitoring and acquisition service with a registry system. The
> monitoring and acquisition service can receive a request from a
> registrar to acquire a domain name. The monitoring and acquisition
> service also can receive a pending delete notification from the registry
> for a domain name having a registration that is about to be deleted. The
> pending delete notification can be received before the registry issues a
> public delete notification or purges the domain name, at which point the
> domain name is registrable by the first-responding registrar. If the
> domain name that is the subject of the pending delete notification has a
> corresponding acquisition request received by the monitoring and
> acquisition service, the monitoring and acquisition service can request
> acquisition of the domain name for the requesting registrar.
>
>
> My summary: This essentially seems to be the system used by Verisign to
> implement WLS.
>
>
>
> I have some more applications to review and will post to the list for
> information.
>
> Again I welcome comments from registrars on these patents or patent
> applications.
>
> Regards,
> Bruce Tonkin
>
>
>
>