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Amazon Patents User Viewing Histories

Posted by timothy on from the uspto-is-just-trying-to-distract-you-from-scotus dept.

Chris Cleveland writes "Yet another astounding patent from the USPTO. I was browsing the patent database, and discovered that Amazon received a patent today on using customer viewing histories to generate recommendations. If a customer views product A, and then later views product B, and you use that to infer a relationship between A and B, then you've infringed on this patent. This patent is a continuation of an earlier patent (#6,317,722) on using shopping carts to generate recommendations. When will this stupidity end?"

3 of 430 comments (clear)

  1. End? by johnmearns · · Score: 5, Funny

    It won't end until amazon patents getting absurd patents. Then its over.

    --
    "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it." -Voltaire
    1. Re:End? by MadMidnightBomber · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm about to patent "doing ... things with er, stuff". Wish me luck.

      --
      "It doesn't cost enough, and it makes too much sense."
  2. Amazon should license this patent to USPTO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, if Amazon files a stupid patent A, and then later files another stupid patent B, USPTO can recommend Amazon to file yet another stupid patent C.