[Wikimedia-l] Patent claim relating to QRpedia

[David Richfield]

Hi all,

After the success of Monmouthpedia etc, we decided to try something
similar in South Africa - in collaboration with the Heritage
department of the City of Johannesburg.  After the President of
Wikimedia South Africa did a radio interview about the proposed
project, our contact in the City got this letter:

===

Dear Eric,

Kindly note that this email is sent without prejudice.

It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider the Walk and
Talk Tours patented system in 1999 with regards to information signage
relating back to electronic media to obtain information in respect of
a site.

To take this step further I would suggest that Johannesburg
Development Agency/ Johannesburg Arts and Culture/ Wikapedia etc
consider buying this concept from Walk and Talk Tours CC without the
necessity of going through unnecessary legal fees in using the
patented concept without the consent of Walk and Talk Tours CC.

Kind regards


Beryl Porter
www.walktours.co.za
Tel: +27 11 444 1639
Fax: +27 11 444 6128
Cell: +27 83 269 9769
email: bporter at iafrica.com

===

I did some research, and found the relevant patent here:
http://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/WO2004021309

A brief review of the patent seems to indicate that it doesn't cover
anything except for phone calls, but the wording is sufficiently broad
that one could construe it to refer to any data sent over a wireless
network.  Can someone on this list please give an opinion?

Thanks,

--
David Richfield
[[:en:User:Slashme]]
+27718539985