Quintura chooses software patent claims as revenue stream

Filed under: News, Google, Analysis, Search

I'm not a fan of software patents, and I'm particularly not a fan of companies who use them as a business model. While the concept of patenting software makes sense, in practice it is a complete mess.

I was therefore saddened to learn that Quintura, an otherwise interesting search startup, has devolved into using a patent for their visual search technology as a revenue stream by going after other search companies to pay a license fee if they have a visual search component.

Quintura's patent was only awarded on December 1, 2009, and already they are targeting Google for a little-known search interface they have called Wonder Wheel, with plans to go after "several companies and services that could have infringed the patent."

This new direction marks the beginning of the end for Quintura, and it's a shame. I'm no lawyer, but my guess is that Google (or one of the other companies that Quintura targets) will be able to find evidence somewhere of prior art and invalidate the patent, or will otherwise be able to tangle Quintura up legally in a financial chokehold until they quietly go away. When you're David, it's usually not a good idea to throw pebbles at Goliath.

Quintura chooses software patent claims as revenue stream originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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