I just read about this in a local newspaper today, and wondered what you guys think about it: Singapore firm claims patent to image search.

Dubbing itself "pioneers of visual search technology", Vuestar Technologies said it owns the patent to the technology that enables "Internet searching via visual images".

In sum, the company implied that any Web site that uses pictures and graphics to link to another site or Web page will need a license from Vuestar.

"Those who use visual images which hyperlink to other Web pages or Web sites...whether on the first page or subsequent pages of a Web site require a Vuestar 'license of use'," the company said on its site.
If the reports are accurate, it seems that this is yet another example of a brain damaged software patent that points to the systemic flaws of software patenting.