USPTO Awards LOL Patent To IBM 274
theodp writes "Among the last batch of patents granted in 2009 was one for IBM's Resolution of Abbreviated Text in an Electronic Communications System. The invention of four IBMers addresses the hitherto unsolvable problem of translating abbreviations to their full meaning — e.g., 'IMHO' means 'In My Humble Opinion' — and vice versa. From the patent: 'One particularly useful application of the invention is to interpret the meaning of shorthand terms ... For example, one database may define the shorthand term "LOL" to mean "laughing out loud."' USPTO records indicate the patent filing was made more than a year after Big Blue called on the industry to stop what it called 'bad behavior' by companies who seek patents for unoriginal work. Yet another example of what USPTO Chief David Kappos called IBM's apparent schizophrenia on patent policy back when he managed Big Blue's IP portfolio."
UYK (Score:3, Funny)
Hint: It's Scottish!
lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:5, Funny)
"lol" hasn't meant anything close to "laughing out loud" for years. It's more like "your statement is slightly humorous, but I'm definitely not laughing".
Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:LOLLERSKATES! (Score:2, Funny)
Apple invents it, Microsoft clones it, and IBM patents it.
Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:1, Funny)
lqtm
Re:UYK (Score:4, Funny)
Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:5, Funny)
Actually, "lol" is now an anti-abbreviation for a period. For example:
"today i went to the store and got some orange juice lol"
Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:5, Funny)
This patent would have helped a co-worker of mine's uncle: He thought LOL meant "Lots of Love."
Pretty harmless, until he started using it inappropriately: "I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. LOL" or "You're better off without him anyway. LOL".
Apparently, they had to hold an intervention. :)
Re:Did IBM just patent every geek's head? (Score:5, Funny)
Mine too, but more like MS-Access after passing the 1-gig recommended limit.
Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:3, Funny)
Needs more BBQ IMO.
Re:FWIW... (Score:3, Funny)
They patented the use of text substitution and lookup tables on the internet. That makes it new and special.
Re:Summary is wrong, read the patent (Score:5, Funny)
Whatis bot query (Score:5, Funny)
CRAP.
> whatis CRAP
>>> IBM's CRAP:: Internally known as Consumer Research and Planning.
Re:Summary is wrong, read the patent (Score:4, Funny)
Tell that to Imhotep.
WHATISBOT: In My Humble Opinion Too Easily Patented.
WHATISBOT: PRESS ENTER FOR MORE OPTIONS.
Re:how is this not original? (Score:3, Funny)
ASa side note, my kids actually say LOL sometime with pronounciation of each letter, sometime as 'Lawl'. The are 9 and 11.
Not surprising, considering how illiterate their father is.
Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:lol = laughing out loud? WTF? (Score:3, Funny)
And in IBM's internal corporate database, LOL expands to "Lots of Lawyers".
OA (Ob Abbreviation): IANAL.