Google Awarded Broad Patent For Location-Based Advertising

Mashable has a report of a patent that just issued (6-1/2 years after filing) — apparently Google now has a lock on location-based advertising. It's not clear that the search company intends to assert the patent against any other companies (such as emerging rival Apple), but it's useful as leverage. Here is the patent. Update: 03/02 14:34 GMT by S : Reader butlerm noted that the incorrect patent was linked. It now points to the correct URL.

Let's hope they use it.

[Akido37]

I hope Google sues anyone who uses location-based advertising. That way, only Google will broadcast my location to advertisers. Avoid Google's product, and BAM! Privacy.

Seriously, though, Apple is already trying to stop app developers from using location information solely for advertising: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/news/archives/2010/february/#corelocation [apple.com]

Re:Apple must have known this was coming

[LostCluster]

Apple hasn't banned location ads, they've just required that in order to access the location, you must have a feature that uses it other than the ads.

WTF? Prior Art! - IP Address-based geolocation

[naz404]

What gives? Google applied for the patent in 2004, but I've been seeing IP Address-based geolocation-targeted ads since way before 2004. You'd be served different different ads depending on where you lived based on your IP address.

How is this different?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geolocation_software [wikipedia.org]

time for a reset...

[Eth1csGrad1ent]

It is time for a coordinated world-wide BOFH system shutdown in order to FORCE a review of IP laws and how they relate to technology.

How many billions (trillions?) of dollars have been wasted on lawyers and swapped between major industry players in the last 30 years over IP bitch-fighting !?

Not to mention that while the big guns are duking it out, the little guy (even the not-so-little guy) is absolutely screwed along with any form of innovation.

#$%^ all of these uber-corporations. Its seriously time to send a message to both governments around the world, and the people on the street, that the system is FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN...

Google needs a war chest.

[miffo.swe]

The problem with the current patent system is that Google needs a war chest full of patents to survive. When Microsoft goes on a rampage like they do now, demanding anyone using linux to pay Microsoft its essential.

Having a patents like this makes Google less of a target.

The system is utterly broken but i dont blame the companies playing the game, i blame the stupid politicians who allow this.