Back in the day, I came across a one-page web page that served as a directory of the major players in my marketplace. All the webpage said at the bottom was “Copyright Industrial Quick Search”.
After IQS came out of ‘skunk works’, they proudly said ‘patent pending’ on all their promotional materials. A lot has happened since, and patents on web site functionality has become the norm, although it still makes me scratch my head.
And now IQS has received a patent for their web-directory tool, proudly posted at
Here’s the summary of the ‘invention’:
(I have added paragraph breaks and bullets to make it readable without falling asleep, or wandering-off to check your email.)
“The present invention includes a supplier identification and locator system whereby a user can identify a supplier of goods or services over the Internet. The supplier identification and locator system includes at least one directory Web site with a directory Web site domain name.
The directory Web site domain name typically is at least partially descriptive of a class of goods or services. The directory Web site also typically has
- a plurality of links where activation of a link accesses a supplier’s Web site;
- a supplier descriptive portion located substantially adjacent to the corresponding supplier link;
- a descriptive title portion substantially corresponding to the description of the class of goods or services described by the directory Web site domain name;
- and a rollover window that displays information about at least one of the suppliers corresponding to a supplier identified by at least one of the supplier links.”
The big thing at the time was that ‘rollover window’ which previewed an ad for the supplier. It was just a clean way to give some worthwhile content in a standard format.
They’ve added additional small-print listings for non-advertisers and some technical content, but today’s IQS product-specific domain pages look a lot like they did when they first came out. But Google still likes their content, as must their visitors & advertisers, which has established IQS as a serious player in the online directory business. The patent just becomes a badge of honor.
A badge of honor to hide the IQS record of shame perhaps? http://www.scribd.com/doc/185677/Mike-MEIRESONNE-IQS-FINDINGS-OF-FACT-CO
A badge of honor to hide the IQS record of shame perhaps? http://www.scribd.com/doc/185677/Mike-MEIRESONNE-IQS-FINDINGS-OF-FACT-CO
Well, its been a week, and only one anonymous post picking on IQS. I’ll admit the post skipped over the ‘dirty details’ of their past. It seemed too much to talk about.I will also admit that the post sounded a bit too suck-up to IQS, I must have been in a good mood when I wrote it. 🙂The bigger issue I should have written about is the whole legitimacy of such a patent. I figured someone would want to complain about it here. What I should have said is that the patent is a badge of honor, but likely won’t be a tool or controlling the directory business.
Well, its been a week, and only one anonymous post picking on IQS. I’ll admit the post skipped over the ‘dirty details’ of their past. It seemed too much to talk about.I will also admit that the post sounded a bit too suck-up to IQS, I must have been in a good mood when I wrote it. :)The bigger issue I should have written about is the whole legitimacy of such a patent. I figured someone would want to complain about it here. What I should have said is that the patent is a badge of honor, but likely won’t be a tool or controlling the directory business.