BT claims it owns patent for hyperlinks

BT has confirmed that it owns the patent for hyperlinks and intends to charge US ISPs for their use of the technology.

BT hopes to recoup "adequate compensation" by licensing the technology to ISPs in the first instance, and possibly to corporates at a later date.

The company claims it developed the technology behind hyperlinks back in the early 70s when employees of the Post Office - which BT was then part of - worked on Prestel, an early videotext service.

A BT spokeswoman told silicon.com: "The hypertext links on which that technology was based is now what's behind the world wide web."

BT filed an application with the US patent office in 1979, and patent number 4,873, 662 was granted in 1986. UK-based firm QED Intellectual Property and New York law firm Kenyon & Kenyon have been retained to fight BT's corner.

The spokeswoman added: "We believe we have an obligation to protect our patents and an obligation to our shareholders. We are seeking payments for licensing of this technology."