The next chapter in this strange patent matter seems to be started…
From Groklaw: Patent Office Orders Re-Examination of Blackboard Patent:
The US Patent and Trademark Office today ordered re-examination of the e-learning patent owned by Blackboard Inc. Once again, we have the Software Freedom Law Center to thank for filing the request.
Their press release tells us this: "The Patent Office found that prior art cited in SFLC’s request raises "a substantial new question of patentability" regarding all 44 claims of Blackboard’s patent…. A re-examination of this type usually takes one or two years to complete. Roughly 70% of re-examinations are successful in having a patent narrowed or completely revoked."