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Online Auction Industry In A State Of Limbo
theodp writes "It seems the online auction industry is in a state of limbo after last week's ruling that eBay violated patents belonging to MercExchange. MercExchange said it will file an injunction against eBay to keep them from using the technology, eBay said it will file motions to overturn the verdict, and MercExchange is ultimately looking to sell its entire portfolio of auction-related patents. Names being bandied about as possible acquirers include Amazon, Yahoo and eBay itself. Whoever holds the patents may require other sites to pay them licensing royalties."
MercExchange will use Ebay off its patents. BID AWAY. ;)
...now available to the highest bidder.
Ebay should just take the easy road and remove online auctions from their business model.
They could turn themselves into a a portal, or maybe maybe a search engine. Maybe they could sell groceries and have them delivered. I wonder if the CEO has heard of push technology? Push will be the wave of the future! Why surf around for content when it can be delivered via a cute little cartoon caharacter.
I doubt this whole 'auction' thing will ever catch on anyway. None is ever going to buy a piece of junk from an unknown person over this here new fangled internet.
~Z
...we know you are in there somewhere SCO!
Names being bandied about as possible acquirers include Amazon, Yahoo and eBay itself. Whoever holds the patents may require other sites to pay them licensing royalties.
You think they'll have the guts to hold an online auction for the royalties?
Take an existing event, which by itself in not patentable (ie an auction) and stick it on a have the participants interact through the internet, and all of a suddent, you have just "invented" the best thing since sliced bread (Patent Pending).
So:
1. Take existing "thing" everyone does
2. Stick it on the net, and patent it
3. Profit
Take that underpants gnomes!
it is only after a long journey that you know the strength of the horse.
You mean Amazon doesn't own this already?
...that's what you get for ignoring your jury duty summons.
My plan for retirement:
1. Come up with a plan or method that sounds crazy, impractical, or stupid to everyone, and copyright it.
2. Wait 5 or 10 years for someone else to find a way to make millions off it.
3. Sue for copyright infringement.
4. etc...
-Look lively. LOOK LIVELY!!! --Mr. Shmallow
To SCO (too skoe), v.t. (1) To attempt to collect royalties or fees for services or the use of properties to which the perpetrator has no rights, or to which the alleged rights are highly dubious. (2) To bully by means of expensive trial lawyers. Also, pulling a SCO (colloquial).
SCO-ed (skoad, skode), (1) past tense and past participle of To SCO (q.v.). (2) adj. Result of the action of a SCO-ing.
Whoever holds the patents may require other sites to pay them licensing royalties
Or they could be sane and let the world continue as it has been, succesfully.
The only problem with US judges is that they're so easy to buy ;)
Be the first kid on your street to collect them all!
Ebay should retaliate by patenting "Online Auctions using a computer and software"...
Then whoever buys the other patents will be forced to cross-license!
Isn't it wonderful to see such innovation and progress being so thoughtfully encouraged by our beloved government? (May they never be overthrown!)
Makes me feel all warm and tingly inside.
Tell the guy putting a gun to your head and FORCING you to come here an write insanity to ...
...
make you look bad that he is relieved of duty
go see a Beautiful Mind you might have the hero problem
On the principles and ideals under which auction patents were files. I have an idea for you nzyank! Why don't you file a patent for the molecular makeup of the air. Better yet why don't you file another patent on the processes of breathing. Then you can claim that you have 13 patents.
Client : So, should we sue him, send a letter or what?
Lawyer : Nah, that's just being too litigious, lets wait a few weeks and see what happens.
Client: Hmm, okay.
There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
"And in related news, Christie's will now be filing suite against all other auction houses in the United States requiring them to pay a fee for holding auctions."
There are many things that people have posted and the arguments, briefs and explanations of the issues quite complex.
Honestly, I think this is just dumb. I wish the judges would declare a new classisfication besides dismissed.
"Earlier today the honorable Judge Thomas has declared the case against eBay Just Dumb. MercExchange will be required to pay a Dumb fine of $1, restricted to payments of one penny per month. Judge Thomas stated that the fine is appropriate for such a case, saying that hopefully corporations that are considering such dumb lawsuites review them before committing themselves to a dumb punishment. Violations to this payment plan will result in fines of up to and including $100 million. MercExchange could not be reached for comments at the time of this writing and it is suspected they are arranging a contract with a bank to ensure their penny-a-month payment."
"Last one in is a rotten goblin!" - Kepp