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AT&T Sues PayPal and eBay for Patent Infringement

theodp writes "AT&T on Thursday fired the latest shot in the escalating Web patent wars, filing suit against PayPal and eBay. AT&T issued a press release alleging that the PayPal and BillPoint payment systems infringe on AT&T's 1994 patent for the mediation of transactions by a communications system. Besides e-Payments, the AT&T patent purports to cover e-Voting, e-Auctions, e-Gifts, e-Donations, e-Wishlists and e-Referrals. e-Gad! e-Yikes!"

21 of 355 comments (clear)

  1. I am so glad, by tarquin_fim_bim · · Score: 1, Funny

    that we don't do software patents in Europe. Oh, wait...

    IANAL but I wish I was now:
    As the word communication seems to be used in extremly lose terms, they could probably use this against any business for actually doing any business, and that would probably include their own lawyers for taking on the job. DISMISSED, on the grounds of being too preposterous for words.

  2. In one word: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    e-vil.

    1. Re:In one word: by machine+of+god · · Score: 4, Funny

      e-vil.

      That's it. I'll see you in court.

  3. I can't fucking believe this crap. I'm outta here. by Ayanami+Rei · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tell the Indians they can deal with this bullshit. I'm going to grow Alpalcas or something.

    --
    THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
  4. e-Sex??? by attobyte · · Score: 2, Funny

    Please tell me they didn't patent e-sex....

    PLEEEEEEEASE Please please NOOOOOOooooooo..... :)

    --
    I didn't use the preview button, so get over it!!!!

    Mike

    1. Re:e-Sex??? by Monkelectric · · Score: 4, Funny
      Please tell me they didn't patent e-sex....

      I think you're talking about Teledildonics? ;-)

      --

      Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  5. Get done with it, already! by TopShelf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since he invented the damn Internet to begin with, why don't all these lawsuits and settlements just get redirected to award Al Gore??? Seems like that would save us all a lot of time...

    --
    Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
  6. Re:What's next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Unless you go out an buy some ATT stock, then its friken great.

  7. semantics to the rescue! by vena · · Score: 3, Funny

    the patent office should just change every instance of "a system" to "this system"

    problem solved!

  8. Enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm sorry, why is it again that more lawyers/ceo's/buildings aren't being blowed up across America?

  9. Re:Courriel by Gyan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does this mean that my $2 million dollars in my PayPal account will be lost?

    Are you from Nigeria, by any chance?

  10. Re:they'll know we want a pizza! by Vaevictis666 · · Score: 4, Funny
    the penny arcade crew knows what's up!

    and here's a link that will still work when they put up friday's comic in 7-10 hours.

  11. e-patents by cheebie · · Score: 2, Funny

    From the headline, it appears that AT&T has patented the letter 'e'.

  12. In related news... by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 5, Funny

    Amazon sues AT&T for suing PayPal and eBay with Amazon's 'One-Click-Sueing' technology. Full story at 11.

    --
    Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  13. Re:I can't fucking believe this crap. I'm outta he by jpmorgan · · Score: 4, Funny
    Tell the Indians they can deal with this bullshit. I'm going to grow Alpalcas or something.

    No you're not. I've got a patent on that:

    Claim 1. A method by which you tell the Indians they can deal with this bullshit.
    Claim 2. A method by which you grow Alpalcas.
    Claim 3. Or something.
  14. Re:Can anyone think of prior art?... by ThenAgain · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can. I clearly remember mediating a transaction using a communications medium WELL BEFORE this patent was filed. I purchased a plastic soldier with a parachute attached to it's head at a Toys-R-Us. I mediated the transaction using a communications medium known to the technically minded as "English." It's a shame I didn't retain the documentation. Guess I'll have to let AT&T keep the patent.

  15. I think I'll patent applying for silly patents.... by venom600 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...that ought to put an end to this kinda crap.

  16. zerg by Lord+Omlette · · Score: 2, Funny

    Read the letters section of this week's Economist, the USPTO claims "Patent reform pending".

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    [o]_O
  17. Good grief by emarkp · · Score: 3, Funny

    I e-think I'm going to be e-sick.... (apologies to Foxtrot)

  18. Re:Western Union should sue by waveclaw · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ecclesiastes 1:9

    <OB_SOUTHPARK:BUTTERS>

    Translation into American:

    "the Simpson's did it."

    </OB_SOUTHPARK:BUTTERS>

    --

    "You cannot have a General Will unless you have shared experiences. You cannot be fair to people you don't know."
  19. not so fast AT&T... by some+damn+guy · · Score: 4, Funny

    They obviously forgot about MY patent (#101,936,345)

    "A method of maximizing the returns of any large-scale finanical-enrichment scheme which utilizes courtroom-based justice-mediated settlements as a method for increasing cash flow, increasing the possiblities for success through the aquisition of patents for the most extremely fundamental and obvious aspects of every-day existence."

    Nice try though.