British Telecom considers legal action over hyperlink patent Patents9/5/2000; 1:08:24 PM 'British Telecommunications (BT) is prepared to take legal action against ISPs in the US unless they cough up cash for using hyperlinks. 'The patent was granted in 1989 and is only still valid in the US. Patent 4,873,662 expires in 2006.'What amazing chutzpah!For previous coverage of this topic, which I will bravely hyperlink despite the apparent patent issues of that act, I refer you to the iRights coverage: Original coverage, including a[n illegal?] link to the original patent on 6/19/2000, and further commentary on 6/21/2000 and 6/24/2000.