Since this is apparently patentable, I'm actually kind of happy that it's Google that got it.<p>1) They're not going to actually enforce it because that would damage their image significantly.<p>2) In the absolute best unicorns-and-rainbows case, I can even see Google using it to demonstrate how ludicrous the patent wars are getting these days. This even makes a little bit of sense, given that the first hundred hits (on bing!) for '"Google sues" patent' are for patent countersuits.
There must be prior art for this.<p>Coca cola used to have a variant of their logo and jingle for adverts at Christmas. There must be stacks of other examples.<p>codeproject.com have a alien logo that they dress up for special events. (Although admittedly I'd guess Google doodles probably pre-dates this one)
"FIG. 4 is a diagram of an exemplary story line 400 according to an implementation consistent with the present invention. In this example, the story line 400 involves aliens that steal a company's logo and includes five animated images 410-450. The animated image 410 represents the beginning of the story and shows an alien spacecraft approaching the company logo. The animated image 420 shows the alien spacecraft landing on the company logo and an alien inspecting the logo. The animated image 430 shows the aliens leaving their spacecraft to further inspect the company logo. The animated image 440 shows the aliens hauling away the company logo with their spacecraft. Finally, the animated image 450 shows the company logo after being deposited on another world by the aliens."<p>Google Mars.
Not granted because of prior art cited by examiner:
<a href="http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19961223150621/http://www8.yahoo.com/" rel="nofollow">http://replay.waybackmachine.org/19961223150621/http://www8....</a>