360 degree photo patents bought by Sony

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

Some might recall the discussions a while back about patents and 360 degree
technology.  Some interesting followup here (registration free, but
required, I believe)

--
Bobby G.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/04/AR2007020401
109.html

Sony Wins Bid for Ipix Camera Technology Patents

By Kim Hart
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 5, 2007; Page D01

When President Bush gave his 2003 State of the Union address, Ipix captured
the room with a panoramic image for online viewers. Movie star Will Smith
relied on similar 360-degree photos to go house-hunting in Philadelphia from
his California living room. EBay used Ipix technology to display items sold
online.

So when the struggling Reston company announced it was auctioning off the
patents for its high-resolution camera technology after filing for Chapter 7
bankruptcy in July, former chief executive Clara Conti wasn't surprised to
receive more than 400 inquiries.

. . .

"Somebody completely ran that company off the tracks," he said. "There was
so much promise on the security side. Sony got the bargain of the century."

[continues for two pages at site]