In a move which could change the Internet forever, a Singapore firm has sent out invoices to companies which use graphics to link to web sites, claiming that it owns the patent.

Vuestar technologies has been busy sending out invoices all week under the claim that it owns the patent to technology used by almost every site on the Internet to link pictures to other Web pages.

Bryan Tan of Keystone Law Corporation said that it would be unlikely for a judge to rule in favour of such a wide patent, but advised anyone who has been invoiced by the company to get themselves a lawyer double quick.