Washington Mutual Patents the Bank Branch

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."

Comments

Yeah

[challahc]

This is one of the dumbest ideas ever. Banks are hardly even needed anymore. The only reason I go into the bank is to complain about something or to open/close accounts. The rest I do online or at an atm. Coffee doesn't make it any more necessary for me to go in.

of course

[Trepidity]

Just because it's a real word in Latin doesn't mean it's not trademarkable. "Kentucky Fried Chicken" is a generic phrase in English, and it's a trademark. So is "Red Hat".

PRIOR ART!

[blair1q]

I call prior art!

I have first-hand knowledge that the US Army invented the clusterfuck.