Overture - new patent "..influencing a position on a search result list..."
 

System and method for influencing a position on a search result list
generated by a computer network search engine

A system and method for enabling information providers using a
computer network such as the Internet to influence a position for a
search listing within a search result list generated by an Internet
search engine. The system and method of the present invention provides a
database having accounts for the network information providers. Each
account contains contact and billing information for a network
information provider. In addition, each account contains at least one
search listing having at least three components: a description, a search
term comprising one or more keywords, and a bid amount. The network
information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after
logging into his or her account via an authentication process. The
network information provider influences a position for a search listing
in the provider's account by first selecting a search term relevant to
the content of the web site or other information source to be listed.
The network information provider enters the search term and the
description into a search listing. The network information provider
influences the position for a search listing through a continuous online
competitive bidding process. The bidding process occurs when the network
information provider enters a new bid amount, which is preferably a
money amount, for a search listing. The system and method of the present
invention then compares this bid amount with all other bid amounts for
the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search listings
having that search term. The rank value generated by the bidding process
determines where the network information providers listing will appear
on the search results list page that is generated in response to a query
of the search term by a searcher located at a client computer on the
computer network. A higher bid by a network information provider will
result in a higher rank value and a more advantageous placement.

Davis, Darren J.
Overture Services, Inc.; August 15, 02006
#7092901

with their patents overture firmly protects their longevity as a leader in their field imho.

This would make all SE bidded click systems (including Google Adwords) infringers. Did Overture come up with this idea first?

2hp

one has to think google was aware of relevant patents that were in the pipeline. perhaps the right-side advertising is a design-around for future search paid listing sites? i did not read the patent fully but initially it looks like google is non-infringing to me.

"Yahoo! Search Marketing (formerly Overture Services, Inc.), was an Idealab spin off, originally known as Goto.com, that was the inventor of what is known in the search engine business as P4P, or Pay For Performance."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo!_Search_Marketing

Google agreed to issue 2.7 million shares of common stock to Yahoo! in exchange for a perpetual license.

Interesting I just got a class action suit letter about overture / yahoo ads today. lol Didnt read it completly yet though.

so google is a settler...

interesting read

brujah- was that settlement 2.7 mil share on the original overture pay per click patent or this new one or both?

didn't anyone tell them there is no money in SEO?


Fight the patent!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FightThisPatent didn't anyone tell them there is no money in SEO? Fight the patent!

Lol -- that was my first impression on reading it too - that they meant to embrace ALL manner for influencing what's on the SERP and not just doing so by bidding more -- lol

2hp

Hi Brandon- so far I am more admiring the patent - is there a compelling reason to fight this overture patent??? inquiring minds want to know...

I have to read the patent.. the abstract reads broadly, and if they were early enough, then they could have the foundation patent.. and more power to them if no prior art.

I'll check it out since it seems to be good reading by you :)

Fight the homework assignment!

please lmk what you think :thumbsup

of course there will always be those who believe that root and core processes should not be patentable for web but is there a legal basis to discount the overture patent???

what's the new date after june 9th? been waiting...

:)

Fight the coming soon!

that was the date to have a core process in beta and we hit it fortunately. getting close and perhaps you can help beta... 33 people in the office right now btw

Hmm... this might be worth revisiting for me then.

Filed in 2001

http://www.bamas.com/vuepro32.jpg