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.
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Doctor heal thyself by whatssatsmell on Feb 21st, 2008 @ 10:03pm
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.
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Uhhh...congrats.... by JB on Feb 21st, 2008 @ 10:12pm
On patenting the usage of Microsoft Sharepoint...
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Giggity by Quagmire on Feb 21st, 2008 @ 10:20pm
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.)
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Patent losing jobs to overseas' sweatshops by jdragon on Feb 21st, 2008 @ 11:30pm
I think I'll go patent this.
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by Vincent Clement on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 4:38am
I think it's called a phone.
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Accenture by J Brown on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:05am
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.
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get rid of him by salametti on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:25am
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!!
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Accenture by Skweezer on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:28am
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.
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Re Main Post by Killer_Tofu on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:46am
"Somehow I doubt Accenture will do the same."
Probably beacuse the patent office, 9 times out of 10, is dumb enough to grant it.
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enslave your own people!!! by salametti on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 5:58am
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!!
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Re: Doctor heal thyself by Anonymous Coward on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 6:31am
I've seen the end result of "theoretical expert" projects, and they normally belong in the ditch.
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enslave your own people? by Danny Mittleman on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 9:14am
"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.
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Frankly, I'd be Embarrassed... by John Opincar on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 9:47am
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.
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enslave our own people? by chuck diesel on Feb 22nd, 2008 @ 11:50am
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.
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by chris on 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
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Patenting Offshoring or just a process? by Mohan on Feb 27th, 2008 @ 1:49pm
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?
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by Anonymous Coward on Jun 7th, 2008 @ 8:37pm
**** accenture
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