Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Washington Mutual Patents the Bank Branch

Posted by michael on from the argh dept.

ewhac writes "Okay, so it's not a bank branch per se, but a particular kind of bank branch -- one that has play areas for kids, serves coffee and popcorn, and has kiosks instead of teller windows. Washington Mutual has dubbed this branch design, "Occasio" (a generic Latin word meaning, "favorable opportunity," and which has probably been trademarked). The San Francisco Chronicle reports that it may be the first time the USPTO has awarded a patent for the design of a retail store/presence."

4 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. Yes, "Occasio" is trademarked by Motherfucking+Shit · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here, here, here, and here. Washington Mutual owns all of them.

    --
    "BSD: Free as in speech. Linux: Free as in beer. Windows 10: Free as in herpes." --Man On Pink Corner in #52607549.
    1. Re:Yes, "Occasio" is trademarked by bar-agent · · Score: 4, Informative

      And here is the actual text of the patent.

      --
      i'd hit it so hard, if you pulled me out you'd be the king of britain [bash.org]
  2. Trade Dress by cmason32 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I don't understand how the USPTO can give out this patent. The design of a store is typically protected by trade dress. The Supreme Court has explicity stated that you're not supposed to be able patent protection if something is normally covered by trademark law. Whomever approved this needs to be canned.

  3. Re:Ack! by Meowing · · Score: 3, Informative
    I hear someone actually patented Blue Jeans!
    Yep, US patent 139121. And why not? The riveted canvas thing really was different at the time.