AOL Granted Instant Messaging Patent

AOL Time Warner subsidiary, ICQ, has been issued a patent for the instant messaging ("IM") Internet application that allows users to exchange text messages in real time. Filed in 1997, patent No. 6,443,344 was granted in September of 2002 and was based on the work done by technologists at Mirabilis, a company acquired by AOL in 1998. The patent covers a communications network that allows users to monitor when other IM users are on the network and to communicate with them. For more information visit: http://news.com.com/2100-1023-978234.html http://www.forbes.com/newswire/2002/12/19/rtr828538.html http://www.instantmessagingplanet.com/public/article.php/1558671 http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/story/itWire/INW20021219S0008 Concerned about your company's patent portfolio? Contact Victor Butsky (vbutsky@dww.com) or Jennifer Jannuska (jjannuska@dww.com) at DWW.