By Irah Donner and Belinda Joran
In a case that could stand the Internet on its head, British Telecommunications plc (BT) claims that it owns the patent to hyperlinks and is suing to enforce the patent.
Background:
The U.S. patent at issue, number 4,873,662 entitled "Information handling system and terminal apparatus therefor" (the "'662 patent"), was issued on October 10, 1989, and, under the rules in effect at the time, will expire in October 2006.
During an audit of its extensive patent portfolio a few years ago, BT discovered the '662 patent, which it refers to as the "Hidden Page" patent. BT then contacted a number of U.S. Internet service providers (ISPs), requesting they purchase a license to use the patented invention. It appears that none have so far taken BT up on its offer.
