GoogleがRSS広告の特許を密かに出願していたようです。「シンディケーションされたコンテンツ・・・RSSなど・・・にターゲティング広告を挿入する」特許だそうで、ニュースフィードや検索結果、ブログが該当すると。しかしこれって通るんでしょうか？

出願内容はこちら：

Incorporating targeted ads into information in a syndicated, e.g., RSS, presentation format in an automated manner is described. Syndicated material e.g., corresponding to a news feed, search results or web logs, are combined with the output of an automated ad server. An automated ad server is used to provide keyword or content based targeted ads. The ads are incorporated directly into a syndicated feed, e.g., with individual ads becoming items within a particular channel of the feed. The resulting syndicated feed including targeted ads is supplied to the end user, e.g., as a set of search results or as a requested web log. Embedding of targeted ads into syndicated feeds and/or user response to the embedded ads is be tracked in an automated manner for billing. The automated targeting and insertion process allows ads to be kept current and timely while the original feed may be considerably older.

RSS広告、ブログ広告のみならず全てのコンテンツ連動型広告が対象になってきそうですが、こんなのが通ってしまった日には、どうなることやら。