A patent has been awarded to US-based web security company
McAfee.com for its method and system for automatically “securing,
managing or optimising a personal computer” over the web. According
to the company’s announcement yesterday, the patent is wide enough
to cover a subscription-based model for delivering security and
maintenance services to internet users.
The software protected by the patent “virtually eliminates the
need to install, configure and manage the technology on a local PC
or network”, according to McAfee.com. It claims that the patented
method has improved the way in which viruses can be detected and
removed. In addition it performs software searches identifying the
need for upgrades and carries out software and data archiving. The
granting of the patent to McAfee.com sets a challenge for other
companies moving into the delivery of software as a service, most
notably Microsoft.
The UK-based internet search specialists Envisional and
e-business company Exelum have announced the launch of a new,
automated process for identifying abuses of intellectual property
on the internet. The Discovery Engine software is intended to
combat on-line piracy by identifying infringing web based content
using specific search criteria.
The companies previously worked together in the implementation
of a Discovery Engine system for a client in the music industry,
and that experience formed the basis for the more recent
anti-piracy development.
More information is available at www.envisional.co.uk.
