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Chocolatier Fights PanIP Uber-Commerce Patent

Posted by timothy on from the they-should-patent-fighting-patents dept.

synerr writes "In October, Slashdot reported how PanIP sued 10 companies. Since they were so successful, they have launched 50 more lawsuits. The Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel has an article about how one local small town chocolate company, DeBrand's, is planning to fight back against San Diego based PanIP LLC's claim that they hold the patent over any automated commerce done by text and graphics on a video monitor. The owner of DeBrand's has even set up a web site to organize the different e-merchants, www.youmaybenext.com."

16 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. *blink* fort wayne, indiana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    erm. that's only an hour's drive or so from here. ...

    i wonder how my wife would react if i asked her if she would be ok with driving to fort wayne to buy some chocolate.

  2. Well it looks like PanIP is about as popular as... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...AIDS. Maybe they should patent that too.

  3. Sigh by MacAndrew · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're giving us lawyers a bad name!

    Oh, wait...

  4. Obligatory website links by RoboOp · · Score: 3, Funny
    The company: Debrand Chocolates

    And of course, what would slashdot be without the... Obligatory Python Link

    --
    "First you get the Linux, then you get the power, THEN you get the women"
  5. You May Be Next!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    To experience the dreaded slashdot effect!!!

  6. patent for commerce on a video monitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Just write in the "terms of use" of your website that customers must use an LCD screen to use the automated commerce feature of the website. PanIP can't sue, and customers never read the terms of use, so everyone is happy.

  7. YouMayBeNext.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    You May Be Next... to get Slashdotted.

    1. Re:YouMayBeNext.com by cetan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Now their legal bills can be dwarfed by their ISP bills after the slashdotting!

      --
      In Soviet Russia...michael would be rotting in Siberia!
  8. Very, very sad. by Lendrick · · Score: 5, Funny

    Check out this list.

    Seriously, how can you sue "The Little Pie Company" and still claim to have a soul?

    1. Re:Very, very sad. by SirSlud · · Score: 3, Funny

      > Seriously, how can you sue "The Little Pie Company [littlepiecompany.com]" and still claim to have a soul?

      After the littlepiecompany.com took over thetinypiecomany.com in a heartless corperate merger that left pieces of crust and cherry spattered over quartly results reports, I think all bets were off.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    2. Re:Very, very sad. by RebelTycoon · · Score: 3, Funny

      And how could you link to them. You know who, the The Little Pie Company, their server has now become an oven.

      Thanks buddy,

      --

      Tournament Management Online &

  9. Eureka! by cyberbrian · · Score: 5, Funny
    I just need to patent the following process:

    1) Identify an obvious "technology" that is in the public commons
    2) Patent it
    3) Extort small businesses via threats of expensive litigation
    4) ...
    5) Profits

    Then I can sue PanIP ! ! !

    B.

  10. Good thing by Quixadhal · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... I still use my old hardcopy terminal then, eh?

  11. Not A Surprise by denisonbigred · · Score: 3, Funny

    PanIP first sued about 10 small online merchants in March. That, by the way, was the month PanIP was incorporated.

    Its wonderful to see how the American way rewards hard work and Lawsuits.

    --

    "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals."
  12. you may be next by RealSurreal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nice domain name. Is it worth $10 for youmaybeslashdottednext.com?

  13. Re:Good thing I'm using an LCD! by Kaz+Riprock · · Score: 4, Funny

    it appears to me that using an LCD monitor would be completely outside the scope of the patent

    That reminds me...I have to go file a patent...I'll be right back.

    --
    Mordor...a magical, mythical land where women are more rare than dragons--but where every man would rather find a dragon