To: H-1B/L-1/offshoring e-newsletter 164

Well, IBM is now going to withdraw the patent application.  The
publication I cited earlier now reports, at
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090330/BIZ/90330042/-1/BIZ2102

#  By Christine Young
#  Times Herald-Record
#  Posted: March 30, 2009 - 6:04 PM
# 
#  The same day news broke that IBM had applied to patent a system that
#  calculates how to offshore jobs while maximizing government tax breaks,
#  Big Blue did an about-face.
# 
#  The application “was filed in error and will be withdrawn,” said IBM
#  spokesman Steve Malkiewicz.
# 
#  Some 17 months ago, IBM abruptly withdrew a similar patent filing
#  immediately after it was made public.

The 2007 patent withdrawal is described in the article enclosed at the
end of this message.  One of the interesting passages in that article is

#  There are 54 other US patent applications pending that include the word
#  “outsourcing” in the title. This isn’t IBM’s first patent application
#  that is designed to make it easier and more effective to export work
#  outside the US.
#  
#  For instance, it filed a patent application in February describing a
#  system to match a “knowledge worker” with a job based on a variety of
#  criteria, including experience, salary and geographical location. The
#  application includes examples of cost comparisons involving workers in
#  India.

By the way, if you are interested in learning more about the patent
application reported today, go to

www.thestandard.com/news/2009/03/30/ibm-applies-patent-offshoring-math?page=0%2C0

Norm

IBM withdraws outsourcing patent
Leslie D'Monte / Mumbai October 06, 2007

Indian and global IT services providers would heave a sigh of relief,
with IBMs attempt to patent a technology that would help companies to
figure out which jobs to send overseas getting a quiet burial.

The company today confirmed that it has withdrawn its patent
application for outsourcing of services which it had filed on July 12
this year.

Alok Shende, head (technology), Datamonitor, said IBM had attempted to
patent the business logic of outsourcing itself. Had the patent gone
through, it would have resulted in a lot of litigation on patent
infringement by other Indian and global IT services providers.

The patent application, titled outsourcing of services, describes a
software that would automate the steps necessary to identify which
tasks are best kept in house and which are ideal for outsourcing
abroad.

There was quite a buzz in the online community over the issue,
questioning why IBM would have thought of making this move. In response
to the pressure, IBM has now withdrawn its application for patent
number US2007/0162321 Outsourcing of Services.

Heres why we are withdrawing it IBM adopted a new policy a year ago to
sharply reduce business method patent filings and instead stress
significant technical content in its patents. Even though the patent
application in question was filed eight months before the policy took
effect in September 2006, had the policy been in place at the time, IBM
would not have filed the application. Were glad the community pointed
this application out so IBM could take swift action, said an IBM India
spokesperson.

The same has been posted on the blog of Bob Sutor, vice-president (open
source and standards), IBM.

There are 54 other US patent applications pending that include the word
outsourcing in the title. This isnt IBMs first patent application that
is designed to make it easier and more effective to export work outside
the US.

For instance, it filed a patent application in February describing a
system to match a knowledge worker with a job based on a variety of
criteria, including experience, salary and geographical location. The
application includes examples of cost comparisons involving workers in
India.

The company has also filed an application for a patent for a system and
method of using speech recognition at call centres to improve their
efficiency and customer satisfaction.

It attempts to patent a system for accent reduction in international
workers. The patent first proposes to electronically transcribe and
then provide a digital voice for the caller.

In order to do this, IBM proposes using its text transcription system,
IBM ViaScribe, developed for hearing-impaired individuals. Finally, the
patent also suggests the speaker take accent reduction classes, such as
the programmes which IBM offers.

The patent applications are said to be a logical conclusion to IBMs
moves to become a powerhouse in Indias technology industry.

Samuel J. Palmisano, IBMs chairman and chief executive officer, had
last year promised to spend $6 billion by 2009 to strengthen the
companys ties with India. IBM has operations in more than a dozen
Indian cities and more than 53,000 employees there more than any place
in the world except the United States.




IBM does an about-face on offshoring patent
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Christine Young
By Christine Young
Times Herald-Record
Posted: March 30, 2009 - 6:04 PM

The same day news broke that IBM had applied to patent a system that
calculates how to offshore jobs while maximizing government tax breaks,
Big Blue did an about-face.

The application was filed in error and will be withdrawn, said IBM
spokesman Steve Malkiewicz.

Some 17 months ago, IBM abruptly withdrew a similar patent filing
immediately after it was made public.

Click here for complete local coverage of Big Blue.
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