Wireless Attendance Recording: The FTL patent explained

Wireless Attendance Recording: The FTL patent explained
See, this is the sort of thing that can just kill innovation. A company called Frontline Technology Limited (FTL) has obtained patents for "the transfer of student data by radio." Now the company's information page says, "I am using IEEE 802 wireless/ I am using GPRS to collect student data by radio. Should this be licensed by the patent? Yes." Thus, if you use your 802.11 wideless network to transfer an Excel speadsheet over your LAN, you should pay FTL royalties for this "innovation." This is not just some idle threat, either: FTP has taken Tasc Software Solutions Limited of Wolverhampton and others to court for infringement of its patent relating to the transfer of pupil data in education by radio ? patent number EP 0664061. More...