Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Shea Tisdale" <shea AT sheatisdale.com>]

AOL has been granted a patent for instant messaging.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/biztech/12/19/internet.aol.reut/index.html

I can't see how the patent office could approve a patent when other instant
messaging systems clearly existed before hand.  Although when you read the
patent, it could be describing any number of things, including email - they
write these things so vague sometimes.