Re: OB10 patent on common e-invoicing pattern?

On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 2:36 PM, Mikkel Hippe Brun <mhb@schemaworks.com> wrote:

Hello ubl-dev,

OB10 has received a patent on an "Communication routing apparatus" (US patent and European patent). The patent describes a middleware product (e.g. an ESB) where the ESB acts as an intermediary messaging hub between many IT-systems. It basically describes protocol conversion and content conversion of e-invoices between 1) senders 2) the hub and 3) receivers. The characteristics of the OB10 patent are that static and dynamic data is added to the input protocol and the input content.

I my view this is standard functionality in many middleware products and most ESB's. I also believe that the described pattern of transformations of protocols and content describes exactly what Value Added Network Operators has been making a business on for the last 20+ years. The "VA" (Value Added) in the VAN acronym - is to do transformations on protocols and contents like it is described in the patent.

There is less than 7 weeks to oppose the patent. I therefore urge suppliers of Middleware products and service providers to send an opposition to the patent.

I have written a blog post with my interpretation of the patent. http://bit.ly/JxvZX

I have also written a post where I am collecting evidence to be used in a notice of opposition. http://bit.ly/l0zBq
See also the patent at the European Patent Office: http://bit.ly/Kh95m

Best regards

Mikkel Hippe Brun

Technical Director @ PEPPOL.eu

Cheif Consultant @ The Danish National IT and Telecom Agency

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