Call for prior art on Patent 7,743,336 and Patent Application 20070101146

The W3C seeks information about access control systems available before October 2005 and content distribution systems before April 2006 that offer a viable solution that may apply to the use of access requests policy in Widgets. Such information could suggest ways to define a specification that can achieve the working group's goals without implementers infringing on the disclosed patent.

The Widgets Access Control Policy Patent Advisory Group (WARP PAG) was triggered by Apple's exclusion of US patent 7,743,336: Widget security and US Patent Application 20070101146: Safe distribution and use of content , concerning the Widget Access Request Policy Working Draft.

By making this call, neither the WARP PAG nor the W3C make nor imply any comment whatsoever on the relevance or validity of Apple's claims.

Feedback should be directed to the PAG's public mailing-list: public-widgets-pag@w3.org

Background

W3C established the Patent Policy with the goal of producing Royalty-Free Specifications. In accordance with the exception procedures of the policy, W3C launched a Patent Advisory Group (PAG) to determine possible solutions. A PAG may reach a number of conclusions, including:

advising the Working Group to try to design around the patent, and advising W3C to search for prior art

Claims

On 13 November 2009, pursuant to its rights under W3C's Patent Policy, Apple, Inc. disclosed US Published Patent Application No. 11/432,295 and US Published Patent Application 11/409,276 and claimed that it applies to the Web Application WG's Widget Access Request Policy specification. Apple excluded all claims from the W3C Royalty-Free License commitment of the W3C Patent Policy given by Participants of the Web Applications Working Group.

On 14 November 2009, Apple, Inc. updated its disclosure by giving Application Publication numbers (patent US-20070101433 and US 20070101146).

On 22 June 2010, application US-20070101433 was issued as U.S. Patent No. 7,743,336.

About the Widgets Access Control Policy PAG

The Widgets Access Control Policy Patent Advisory Group is chartered to study issues and propose solutions related to a patent disclosure from Apple, Inc., concerning the Widget Access Request Policy Working Draft.

Rigo Wenning (W3C) is Chair of the PAG. The W3C Staff Contact for the Widgets Access Control Policy PAG is Doug Schepers.

The PAG advised W3C to issue this public call for prior art.

FAQ

What is the goal of this page?

Apple Inc. participates in the Web Application Working Group. In application of the exclusion rights they have according to the W3C Patent Policy, Apple Inc. excluded Patent Nr. 7,743,336 and Patent Application 20070101146 from its Royalty Free commitment given upon joining the Web Applications Working Group. According to Apple Inc., both read on the Widget Access Request Policy Specification. Apple Inc.'s exclusion triggered a Patent Advisory Group (PAG). The PAG is using this page to collect links and hints to technology that may help to circumvent the patent. This information may be useful to help the Web Applications Working Group to design around the excluded patent and allow for a Royalty Free Widget Access Request Policy Specification.

Does Apple participate in the PAG?

Apple Inc. does not participate in the Patent Advisory Group.

Does Work on the Widget Access Control Policy Specification have to stop now?

No. The work on the Widget Access Request Policy Specification can continue in parallel to the Patent Advisory Group. Nevertheless, Widget Access Request Policy will not be able to enter the status of Proposed Recommendation as long as the PAG is running.