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."

Comments

Intellectual Property for Auctions

[Revvy]

...now available to the highest bidder.

Re:Intellectual Property for Auctions

[RajivSLK]

Why doesn't MercExchange just sell the patents on ebay?

That's how I get rid of worthless crap I don't want.

The Solution...

[drayzel]

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

I still don't get the patent office

[fireman sam]

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!

this is obviously the road to riches

[tankdilla]

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...

Something new for the Devil's DP Dictionary

[octalman]

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.

How often do you hear :

[DrSkwid]

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.