September 05, 2006

Patent Granted to Blackboard Will Face Challenges

Blackboard Inc. has been awarded a patent making claims that it created some of the basic features of the software that powers online education. Others argue that the patent covers principles that were obvious to everyone. Will virtual education or Blackboard be rattled by this development?

Abstract:
A system and methods for implementing education online by providing institutions with the means for allowing the creation of courses to be taken by students online, the courses including assignments, announcements, course materials, chat and whiteboard facilities, and the like, all of which are available to the students over a network such as the Internet. Various levels of functionality are provided through a three-tiered licensing program that suits the needs of the institution offering the program. In addition, an open platform system is provided such that anyone with access to the Internet can create, manage, and offer a course to anyone else with access to the Internet without the need for an affiliation with an institution, thus enabling the virtual classroom to extend worldwide.

Inventors:
Alcorn; Robert L. (Arlington, VA), Cane; Daniel E. (Washington, DC), Chasen; Michael L. (Washington, DC), Chi; Timothy R. (Fairfax, VA), Gilfus; Stephen R. (Woodbridge, VA), Perian; Scott (Washington, DC), Pittinsky; Matthew L. (Washington, DC)

Assignee: Blackboard Inc. (Washington, DC)

Appl. No.: 09/608,208

Filed: June 30, 2000

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