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[Alan]

Hi,

I'd like to know if it's possible to patent a website idea/content. For example, http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/
Is it possible to patent it, and not let other people copy the idea?

[JimIvey]

That's really hard to say.  "Content" is probably not patentable.  There's a line of cases that say that the novelty of a patent can't be in the printed matter.  It's more complicated than that, but I think that's sufficient for this case.  Fortunately, the content of a web page can be protected by copyright.

"Idea" is tougher.  Some ideas are patentable; other aren't.  Is shrinking banner ads to 10x10 pixels and putting 10,000 of them into a huge 100x100 grid novel and non-obvious?  I would probably suggest that getting a patent would be a challenge (but not impossible).  However, I think it's a clever idea.  

Some ideas for web pages are patentable.  For example, if you were to take a web site that sells ... oh, books or something ... over the Internet and you store returning customers' buying information and allow them to purchase a book with "one click," that sort of thing can be allowed by the USPTO.

In terms of ideas of what's on the page(s) directly (not back-end order fulfilment or things like that), there's probably room to get human-machine interface (HMI, aka user interface) patents for someone coming up with a particularly clever user interface.  In fact, I've done some work in that space.

Is it "possible?"  Yes.  Is it easy or straightforward?  Probably not.

I hope that helps.