``Progressive Casualty Insurance Company Builds a Fortress of Patent Protection around Telematic Auto Insurance Inventions'' Says Latest Insurance IP Bulletin

Business Wire, Oct 15, 2004

STAMFORD, Conn. -- According to an article in the latest issue of the Insurance IP Bulletin (www.insuranceIPbulletin.com/news.html), Progressive Casualty Insurance Company is using sound patent strategy to build a fortress of patent protection around their innovations in telematic auto insurance. The article, written by Bulletin coeditors Mark Nowotarski, US patent agent, and Tom Bakos FSA, consulting actuary, analyzes the most currently available patents and patent applications filed by Progressive to conclude that Progressive is "keeping their original application alive". This strategy may make it particularly difficult for other auto insurance companies to get around Progressive's patents.

The current issue of the Insurance IP Bulletin also presents:

--A feature article by independent inventors Francois Gadenne and Ben Williams of Retirement Engineering Inc. on the impact of patents on insurance product innovation

--An opinion piece by Charles Hall, patent attorney, on why the patent system exists

--An article by Tom Bakos on what independent inventors have to do to effectively promote their ideas to major insurance companies

--Statistics and Commentary on the latest published US insurance patents and patent applications

The Insurance IP Bulletin provides useful information on how intellectual property in the insurance industry can be and is being protected - primarily through the use of patents. It provides a forum in which insurance IP leaders can share the challenges they have faced and the solutions they have developed for incorporating patents into their businesses.

The Bulletin is distributed bimonthly via email and is free of charge. Persons who would like an issue sent to them can call 203 975 7678 or send an email to: trial@insuranceIPbulletin.com

For more information, go to www.insuranceIPbulletin.com/news.html

Press Contacts:

Mark Nowotarski
coeditor Insurance IP Bulletin
c/o MPA LLC
30 Glen Terrace
Stamford, CT 06906 USA

tel 203 975 7678
fax 203 973 0010
email: editor@insuranceIPbulletin.com

Tom Bakos, FSA
coeditor Insurance IP Bulletin
c/o Tom Bakos Consulting, Inc.
P.O. Box 2006
Ridgeway, CO 81432

tel 970 626 3049
fax 970 626 3048
email: tbakos@bakosenterprises.com