Here is what I found about one software vendor who added Sketch features.

At http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=609766&k=automated%20benefits one can read.

-          On August 2, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with Xactware Inc. of OremUtah ("Xactware") to settle the prolonged lawsuit that the two companies had been involved in. The settlement agreement ends all claims and counterclaims between the two parties. The settlement provides for a royalty stream on less than 1% of future sales as long as one of Xactware's U.S. Sketch patents remains in place. The agreement also provides for an increase to this rate in the event of a change of control or if a material joint venture is entered into on sales after either of these events has occurred.

John based on this info I guess it is a possible that ISO might license you their patents on Sketch if you wanted to add that feature. The fact they then could gain access to one’s books would not be desired I would think.

Something else I found interesting in the lead paragraph of the article linked to above one can read,

Automated Benefits Corp. (the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:AUT) today reported results for the six month period ending June 30, 2006. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Corporation's interim consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation for the six months ended June 30, 2006, copies of which can be found at www.sedar.com.

When one goes to www.sedar.com and searchs on Automated Solutions which is the company that holds Symbility you will see their financial reports required of them being a public held company. It shows a running total net loss for the company of $19,124,116.00 as of June 30, 2007 with a loss of $2,422,102.00 for the first 6 months of 2007 as I interpreted the report but I am not sure Canadian accounting methods and terms are the same as in the US so one should read the reports for themselves.

http://www.catadjuster.org/forum/tm.asp?m=27542 There are some good Sketch pointers/comments in threads on CADO.

https://www.usstaffingadj.com/training.asp?courseID=6 It seems like all of the Xactimate training options focus heavily on building Sketch skills.

http://www.stormadjuster.com/forum2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=110 Shows the general frustrations that adjusters had 5 years ago. Has that improved or gotten worse?

http://www.nir-inc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5.html The last post in this thread talks about always double checks the results of Sketch. Does this take much time? Would all stop to do this or be tempted to gun and go?

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:spQ-yPG6cioJ:www.contractortalk.com/showthread.php%3Ft%3D21662%26page%3D2+why+use+xactimate+sketch+feature%3F&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=31&gl=us The next to last post is by a roofing contractor discussing Xactimate annual cost and what he has heard about Sketch.

http://www.xactware.com/product/xm8_testimonials.html A few adjusters are quoted in the Xactimate marketing promo. How great Sketch is was a repeating theme.

http://www.stormadjuster.com/forum2/topic.asp?whichpage=0.8&TOPIC_ID=710&#12747 Sounds like some adjusters have been happy with Sketch for some time now.

Just returned from a trip "across the pond' and heading out to a flood conference this morning.  Middle of September and still no landfalls to speak of is of a concern to me.  The "experts" said it would be a late season.  Let's hope they are correct.

Sketch seems to be a more difficult drawing program to most adjusters who are mandated to use it.  If a drawing tool, even if tied to an estimate in the hope (or just plain sales pitch) of making the adjustment process faster, is burdensome to use it is worthless.  Adjusters should diagram all losses whether it be a roof, footprint of the risk or interior floorplan.  But the diagram is only part of the whole process and should not be something that slows the process down.  As a cat company owner, when I review files I only need to see a "sketch" of a diagram to get an idea of what the risk looks like and how the rooms or roof is laid out.  Pictures tell me much more.  I for one don't want our adjusters spending valuable time drawing works of art or having to make sure the diagram is "Exact" in order for the (much more important) estimate to be accurate.

Gale, ISO is not offering use of any of their patents at this time – already inquired. 

 We will come up with something better than the Sketch method of drawing - something that actually helps adjusters get things done faster (and better).  That's what computers should do or, they too, are just another tool designed to inhibit productivity of the professional property adjuster.

John it seems often changes in technology effectively kill the value of software patents by making them obsolete even before they can expire.