Idea uses neural networks to find relevant domain names.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted patent number 10,778,640 (pdf) to Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN) for “Deep neural network generation of domain names.”
The patent describes a method of finding alternative domain names based on a seed keyword. Like many name spinners, the patent describes taking the seed word and then applying relevant prefixes or suffixes to it.
Verisign’s method includes applying machine learning to figure out which prefixes and suffixes to use.
The patent mentions domain investors, suggesting that domain investors might use the system to find domain names. Not that Verisign would encourage that, because, you know, it blames domain name investors for the world’s woes.
Verisign applied for the patent in November 2017 and it was granted today.
The USPTO Notice of Allowance specifically states “The Application has been examined and is allowed for issuance of a patent….THIS NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE IS NOT A GRANT OF PATENT RIGHTS”
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1303.html
Even Legalzoom makes the error of saying a patent is a “grant” of property rights.
The USPTO does grant patents, and thus grants rights in the intellectual property.
The notice of allowance is the step before a patent is granted.
After the NOA, Payment of the Utility Issue Fee $1000 results in the red ribbon being mailed, which the PTO defines as granting a patent to the inventor.
I wouldn’t consider it a grant unless they waived the issue fee.
If the Issue Fee isn’t paid, they don’t grant the patent, they send a Notice of Abandonment.
I really don’t understand what you’re getting at here. Verisign paid the issue fee and now the patent has been granted.