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Amazon Releases 1-Click Patent Sequel
theodp writes "Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is seeking a patent for coordinating the delivery of a gift. The invention was bundled with the 1-Click claims in this 1998 EPO filing, but its USPTO filing was allowed to lapse. Amazon refiled with the USPTO in July, 2002--a few months after settling the BN 1-Click lawsuit." Update: 12/13 05:35 GMT by T : Ben Silverman writes "Please note that Shel Kaphan is no longer the CTO of Amazon.com and has not been with the company for over three years. I apologize for any inconvience this has caused Mr. Kaphan and to readers for the error. Mr. Kaphan pointed out my error in an email this evening." (Kaphan is identified as CTO in the linked NY Post story.)
Patent Application
The basic idea behind this invention is:
You want to give Uncle Jimbo a gift, but don't have his address. Rather than calling Uncle Jimbo, you give Uncle Jimbo's email and/phone number to Amazon. Amazon's automated system, will first email Uncle Jimbo for his address. When that fails, Uncle Jimbo get put on a calling list to get his address.
It's just a superflous system for getting someone's address...
Why not just call Uncle Jimbo yourself, and ask?
"Communism is like having one [local] phone company " - Lenny Bruce
The new PTO examiner guidelines state that business method patents are not to be granted for previously off line processes that are merely submitted as internet automated inventions.
Anyone can submit a request to the PTO that this app not be granted based upon this obviousness factor in case the assigned examiner needs reminding of this new stipulation.
The PTO is not as screwed up as people on
I find that Amazon.com is a great place to shop and I would encourage others to do the same. But for Heaven's sake, I would never actually purchase from Amazon. The dubious ethics of their one-click patent are more than I can stomach.
Amazon's online product reviews, the ones provided by customers, I find to be extremely helpul when choosing a purchase. The book excerpts are also valuable. Their site is easily navigable, searches are smart, the pages graphically well-laid out. Once I choose what I want at Amazon, I just cut and paste the product number or ISBN number into the site search box of one of their competitors, hit the search button, and place the order. An ISBN number is an unambiguous descriptor of the product, so searches at competing vendors turn up the product instantly and you get the identical thing as if you orderded from Amazon.
I do find that Amazon's site is enough better for shopping that it warrants that extra cut and paste of the ISBN or product number. One thing which does distinquish Amazon from their bargain-basement competitors is the quality of their web site design, so why not take advantage of that, and have the best of both ? Convenient shopping (at Amazon) and low prices (from discount competitors).
Shopping at amazon and purchasing elsewhere also gives the warm feeling of serving a larger good, if only in small degree. I've hurt Amazon by loading their servers just a little harder and helped one of their competitors by giving them my business, and furthermore, whithout loading their servers as I browse products.
I'm not sure how long my moral conviction would last if it actually cost me more to purchase from an Amazon competitor, but so far I've always found lower prices and good service elsewhere. For books, in my experience, books-a-million has lower prices, equivalent selection and I am always satisfied with their service. Of course, I've been happy enough with that that I have not looked elsewhere, so there well be many other good alternatives to books-a-million which I have not discovered.
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