Blackboard filed announced in July that it has received a patent for its e-learning technology - a software many higher ed institutions use to manage online courses (like online master degree courses).
The very same day, Blackboard filed a patent-infringement suit against Desire2Learn one of its primary competitors.
At heart is the freedom-of-ideas model of higher learning vs. intellectual property rights of the tech industry.
The academic purists are bound to have a field day with this. "See, I told you it was just business with those guys."
It is indeed an interesting case and its ramifications can't be predicted. My guess is, as good as Blackboard is, it is not the only way to deliver online learning like MBA online courses.
University of Phoenix allegedly pays bonuses to its enrollment counselors. The case is floating around the legal system with a potential US Supreme Court hearing sometime down the road.
In any event, e-learning is not only in the classroom. Society, business, and education are still learning about e-learning - where its boundaries are, what can be shared and what cannot, what is free and what isn't.
I think the whole hoopla is quite interesting and I am anxious to see how it all pans out.
What do you think?
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