U.S. Grants Patent For Broad Range Of Internet Rich Applications

The patent--issued on Valentine's Day--covers all rich-media technology implementations, including Flash, Flex, Java, Ajax, and XAML, when the rich-media application is accessed on any device over the Internet, according to the patent holders.

Potentially tens of thousands of businesses--not only software makers employing its business processes, but companies offering rich media on their Web sites--could be subject to licensing fees when they use rich-media technology over the Internet.

patent has been granted to a relatively unknown California Web-design firm for an invention its creator says covers the design and creation of most rich-media applications used over the Internet. The patent holder, Balthaser Online Inc., says it could license nearly any rich-media Internet application across a broad range of devices and networks.

if you got a rich Internet application, it is covered by this patent."