Slashdot Mirror
Patent Sought For Amazon Marketplace
theodp writes "On the same day CEO Jeff Bezos launched Amazon's Search Inside the Book feature, a 'completely new way for people to find the books they want,' the USPTO published Bezos' patent application for User interfaces and methods for facilitating user-to-user sales. Ironically, searching for 'Amazon' won't turn up Bezos' patent application--the claims are illustrated with example web pages for the hypothetical 'Store.com', as seen through the eyes of 'Sally Small', 'Larry Large', and 'Barry Buyer.' References are made to other patent applications, presumably Amazon's, that describe a way to efficiently create links to bank accounts, the use of product viewing and purchase histories to identify related products, an electronic catalog search engine, the use of a browse tree for navigating a catalog by category, a wish list service, and a service for allowing users to post product reviews for viewing by others." I've used Amazon Marketplace to buy a fair number of things - it's too bad such a cool service has to be "patented", because you know, the concept of people selling to other people is obviously a new one. *sigh*
I remember a few years ago a relative or friend of mine telling me about how you could search for book titles, etc, and how great it was. I was underwhelmed, and I asked, "does it let you read excerpts from the book like I can if I walked into a real bookstore?" The answer was no of course.
Well, now the answer seems to be yes. And they can patent this?
we observe a company taking a completely intuitive idea, adding "...with a computer" to the end of it, and sending it off to the patent office!
Be the Ultimate Ninja! Play Billy Vs. SNAKEMAN today!
Before everyone attacks Amazon, understand that they are not the problem.
Like it or not, companies have a duty to maximize their value, which includes pursuing and enforcing patents. If they don't, management can be viewed as negligent by the shareholders and be held accountable and/or liable.
Standing up at the shareholder's meeting and stating that you don't pursue patents because you don't agree with the system would be a quick way to be escorted out the door.
laugh hard, it's a long way to the bank
If you find this "patent" confusing, perhaps you could read it and then ask more specific questions based on the actual document in question? I think this will save us both some time. :)
The scope is clearly presented in the patent, it's about online marketplaces-- but the claims of the patent are many and some are very specific, so consult your lawyer, not Random J. Monkey on Slashdot if you really need to know this. Other portals and retailers would not necessarily "be forced to shut down"-- first there is the possibility of prior art, in which case it's possible that the patent is not even valid; second there is the possibility of licensing the patent. Your last question is really the most astounding: what would patenting an idea do? Well, it gives you a patent on that idea. For more information on patents, please see www.uspto.gov.
I do not have a signature
Say you have a local "farmers market" where people can buy or sell to each other. The table I display my goods on might have a patent on it's design. The scale I use to weigh things might also. And the calculator I use to add up your total. However, the market itself does not have a patent. It's just a place where we go.
.gif file format. Without it, .png probably would not have been developed. And who doesn't like .png!?
Now if Bezos wants to patent some "calculators" and "designs for tables" that I can use online to assist in the free trade of goods, why not? When you buy furniture or a calculator do you look at it and say "Oh no, this has patent number 817182199191. We can't buy this, I'd feel used and abused by The System." Of course not.
Sure, some patents are glaringly obvious, have prior art, and should not be granted. But not all patents are bad. Patents are not really intended to stiffle innovation and invention. Several improvements on an existing idea can be patentable. Look at the patents on the
For god's sake, pay an extra few bucks to avoid supporting this crap. Get off your duff and visit a local bookstore.
Buy the President
The worst side-effect of these bogus patents will be the general dilution of the all patents as a perceived means of protecting intellectual property.
Every time a company tried to claim IP ownership of some obviously derivative or mundane process, it discredits the system as a whole and makes it worthless.
Patents will be perceived as useful to the protection of IP as an MBA is indicative of business acumen.
In light of ichimunki's (aka "I'm better than you") post, please refrain from posting any questions that could elicit discussion, or promote knowledge sharing. Slashdot is a place for reposts and Linux ... not learning. Cut it out!
Patents do not cover *concepts*; patents cover *methods*.
THANK you.
It's bad enough that Slashdot readers often confuse the issue when commenting on patent stories; we don't need the moderators making things worse by perpetuating the misconception right in the text of the story posting.
Hemos is getting to be nearly as bad as Michael at tacking on personal opinions to story submissions. I really wish the mods would let the submissions stand on their own merits.
Same stupid patent gets mentioned on every /. patent story.
Informative!?!?!
Yea, for the people that just got off the raft from Cambodia.
The moderators just graduated from Romper Room.