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Legal Issues

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Feb 21st 2008 8:29pm




Filed Under:
offshoring, patents

Companies:
accenture


Top Accenture Scientist Patents Offshoring US Jobs

from the sounds-familiar? dept

theodp writes "Back in 2005, Accenture Chief Scientist Dr. Kishore Swaminathan teased in a blog entry: 'I have an idea that could revolutionize an important area of information technology - but I cannot tell you because I might compromise Accenture's patent rights.' In January, Swaminathan and co-inventor Charles Nebolsky were granted U.S. patent protection for Rapid knowledge transfer among workers, which covers 'transferring knowledge from expert workers at a client location to apprentice workers' at 'offshore locations such as India, the Philippines, China, etc., where labor is less expensive'. BTW, Accenture wants you experts and the EEOC to know that it's a meritocracy that does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, which would of course break the law."

This sounds oddly familiar. Remember a few months back when it came out that IBM had applied for a patent on offshoring? After that hit the news, IBM ended up dropping the claim. Somehow I doubt Accenture will do the same.
19 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    identicon
    whatssatsmell, Feb 21st, 2008 @ 10:03pm

    Doctor heal thyself

    Given the number of major computer projects that Accenture has put in the ditch you have wonder where all of these theoretical expert workers are.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    JB, Feb 21st, 2008 @ 10:12pm

    Uhhh...congrats....

    On patenting the usage of Microsoft Sharepoint...

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Quagmire, Feb 21st, 2008 @ 10:20pm

    Giggity

    They are in Bermuda, where they also keep Tiger Woods.

    Oh and that smell... It's Curry. Dr. Kishore Swaminathan also invented smell-o-vision for blogs. (Patent Pending on that one too.)

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    jdragon, Feb 21st, 2008 @ 11:30pm

    Patent losing jobs to overseas' sweatshops

    I think I'll go patent this.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    Vincent Clement, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 4:38am

    I think it's called a phone.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    J Brown, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:05am

    Accenture

    Another reason not to use overpriced Accenture consultants that don't bring much to the table other than their invoice. Wonder why your system sucks and takes so long to get built? Read the patent, knowledge transfer doesn't happen through a system.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    salametti, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:25am

    get rid of him

    just as we approach an age of uncertainty security in this country...we have some dingle dorfs like rubbing in the fact that they can jack us for our job through a patent? wtf take these people OUT!!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Skweezer, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:28am

    Accenture

    I wonder if the patent includes how a Highly Overpriced consulting firm can offshore 1 analyst job to 20 offshore agents for what turns out to be about the same price and much harder to support.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    icon
    Killer_Tofu (profile), Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:46am

    Re Main Post

    "Somehow I doubt Accenture will do the same."

    Probably beacuse the patent office, 9 times out of 10, is dumb enough to grant it.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    salametti, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:58am

    enslave your own people!!!

    hey man!! remember you are living in the USA, driving our cars, eating our food, living on our land while you try to make us look like idiots selling out the rest of the world to slavery for 50 cents per day.....in the name of national security, you need to rethink this!!! you probably went to american schools, and used american money for your american college degree WHY DONT YOU TRY TO CREATE YOUR OWN JOBS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY...AND ENSLAVE YOUR OWN PEOPLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! this might backfire on you!! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND FUCK YOUR OWN PEOPLE..NOT US!!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 6:31am

    Re: Doctor heal thyself

    I've seen the end result of "theoretical expert" projects, and they normally belong in the ditch.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    identicon
    Danny Mittleman, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 9:14am

    enslave your own people?

    "WHY DONT YOU TRY TO CREATE YOUR OWN JOBS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY...AND ENSLAVE YOUR OWN PEOPLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! this might backfire on you!! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND FUCK YOUR OWN PEOPLE..NOT US!!"

    My god, that's ignorant (and internally contradictory) bigotry. My apologies to all immigrants (and others) offended by this.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  
    identicon
    John Opincar, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 9:47am

    Frankly, I'd be Embarrassed...

    if I was a patent lawyer or involved with the patent system in any way other than trying to reform it. I'd be embarrased to be Accenture -- they have someone high up in their organization that thinks this is patentable. Not only that, but they get excited enought about it to put it on their blog.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  
    identicon
    chuck diesel, Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 11:50am

    enslave our own people?

    WTF mate. I'm pretty sure "your" (anyone who isn't American) people are fine with the work they are getting. Globalization is one reason why the U.S. economy is suffering, while "your" economy is reaping the benefits... I do like your cars though. Thanks for making them champ.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  
    identicon
    chris, Feb 23rd, 2008 @ 3:58am

    "WHY DONT YOU TRY TO CREATE YOUR OWN JOBS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY...AND ENSLAVE YOUR OWN PEOPLE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! this might backfire on you!! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND FUCK YOUR OWN PEOPLE..NOT US!!"

    I think this will answer your question - http://www.clubs.psu.edu/up/sayar/riqs.htm

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  
    identicon
    Mohan, Feb 27th, 2008 @ 1:49pm

    Patenting Offshoring or just a process?

    Thanks for the tipoff. I will have to check out the patent draft or read up a bit more but on the surface it looks like "The Rapid Knowledge Transfer Suite" is only a part of the overall life-cycle; may be a toolkit?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jun 7th, 2008 @ 8:37pm

    **** accenture

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  18.  
    identicon
    hellen thomas, Sep 29th, 2009 @ 11:41pm

    Quality Listing

    I would like to list your url on the subject offshoring on our home page/inner pages in exchange you list our site on your website as well.
    Please confirm 2 keywords to list your site and your site will be added as soon as possible

    Thank you for time

    Sincerly

    Hellen thomas
    Outsourcing Solutions
    http://www.outsourcingsol.com
    Kansas City, Mo
    1 816 572 6285

    N/B
    We also have other quality sites that we can add you, So if you do have other sites, please update us

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  19.  
    identicon
    real deal, Jun 13th, 2010 @ 10:15pm

    Re: Giggity

    you're a classy guy. i fear the future of the US with morons like you around.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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