US Patent Office to Re-Examine Blackboard Patent

Mr_5tein writes: "Groklaw has reported that the US Patent and Trademark Office has just ordered re-examination of the e-learning patent owned by Blackboard Inc (http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070125 20202052), thanks to a filing by the Software Freedom Law Center. SFLC's press release states, "The Patent Office found that prior art cited in SFLC's request raises 'a substantial new question of patentability' regarding all 44 claims of Blackboard's patent..."

The SFLC goes on to explain that though such re-examinations may take a couple of years to complete, approx. "70% of re-examinations are successful in having a patent narrowed or completely revoked.""