Dan Gillmor on Grassroots Journalism, Etc.: Guest Post: Is Google's AutoLink Patent Pending -- By Microsoft?

Dan Gillmor on Grassroots Journalism, Etc.: Guest Post: Is Google's AutoLink Patent Pending -- By Microsoft?: "While Google pooh-poohed any comparison of its controversial AutoLink feature to Microsoft's SmartTag technology, Google's generation of dynamic links to maps and use of ISBN numbers to trigger links to booksellers cover the same territory as Microsoft's 2000 patent application for Providing electronic commerce actions based on semantically labeled strings, whose sole inventor - Jeff Reynar - was the lead SmartTag Program Manager while at MS and is reportedly now a Google Product Manager who's being credited as AutoLink's creator. Reynar's patent applications that have been assigned to Microsoft, including one for Smart Links and Tags, describe a world of 'recognizer' plug-ins that automatically look at every document a user creates, receives or views, transmitting messages to 'action' plug-ins - and even to the plug-ins' authors - that can be used to decide what info you'll be presented with, what options you'll be given, what price you'll pay for goods, and even who you'll be permitted to buy from."

(Full post text; see original for several links.)

So... I guess Google should be pretty clear on possible patent infringements...