Yahoo! On Pursuit To Own Web 2.0

01 Mar Yahoo! On Pursuit To Own Web 2.0

Back in 1996 Yahoo started working on creative web applications that would offer users greater control over the finding internet content and allow for more effective web data syndication, content generation, content customization, etc. At that time Yahoo was laying the foundation for what it is has become today—a gigantic portal full of dynamic content.
Today Yahoo is hot on the pursuit to own Web 2.0. Yahoo is trying get the rights for features found on today’s web 2.0 sites such as Google, Blogline, Netvibes, Rojo, Dapper, PageFlakes, and NewsGator, based on the language in some of their patents filed in 1996.
Some say that it will be fatal to many web-based companies if Yahoo’s ambitions become reality. Many online media companies will be forced out of business or end up shelling out big bucks to Yahoo. Others say that there is nothing to worry about. They say the law cannot possibly cover the multi-faceted web 2.0 content services and their operators worldwide because the patent scope is too broad. Still many say Yahoo’s patent is so broad, that just about every website in the world could technically infringe upon it!
Because the internet itself is a public domain, Yahoo’s ambitions seem ridiculous. Further, on the issue of what belongs to the public, one debater argues that Yahoo cannot possibly claim ownership to the functionalities that are embedded in every web browser and server, noting that even Javascript (or php) alone allows for dynamic loading of content as well as MS’s DHTML.
In my opinion, Yahoo is ripping off the internet landscape. Moving forward with this attempt to claim rights to the entire internet is potentially seriously damaging for Yahoo’s reputation
If Mozart were to file a patent for C and G notes, should all composers, singers, and players be compensating him for using those notes in their songs?:)
What do you think?