October 13, 2006

Colleges Fear Effect of Patent on Software for Learning

By DAN CARNEVALE

Blackboard Inc. offers reassurances, but critics say innovation will be hurt

Blackboard Inc., the software company that has become the dominant course-management provider, is being called a bully by many college officials for the way the company seeks to enforce a controversial patent for electronic-learning technology that it was awarded in January.

Although Blackboard says the patent is much narrower than critics fear, many college officials contend that it is overly broad,

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