Re: ripped off by the evil empire

[ipm@en.com]

I am just an amateur with patents and don't know much about maps..

I assume you are referring to the following MS patent:
5,781,195 Method and system for rendering two-dimensional views of a
three-dimensional surface 
http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=/netahtml/search-adv.htm&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=curr&S1=5781195.WKU.&OS=pn/5781195&RS=PN/5781195

I also looked at your web site.
My first comment is one of your slogans..
Where do you want to know today?
Though catchy, I hope you have if not already at least filed for a
trademark.. this alone might cause some confusion as to the source or
origin of a product or service.  MS might be able to cry trademark
dilution.  Definitely consult an IP attorney.

Upon comparing your research paper and the MS patent listed above, I can
see your immediate concern.  There may very well be some valid issues to
pursue.  From your address and to minimize "spatial effect" per your
definition at your web site.  The following is a link of registered
patent attornies near you, some of which may also be able to provide
counsel on the trademark issue.

Encoding and Handling Geospatial Data with Hierarchical Triangular
Meshes

                NOTES
                 
                Author:    Geoffrey Dutton
                Date:      July 1996