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Amazon Gets Patent on Consumer Reviews

Posted by Zonk on from the sheesh dept.

theodp writes "Review your local dry cleaner, pay $10 million? Among the three new patents awarded to Amazon.com this week is one that covers collecting reviews by letting visitors to a Web site fill out a form. Amazon.com spokesman Craig Berman said he couldn't speculate on whether the company would attempt to license its new intellectual property." From the article: "In one embodiment of the patent, the system sends consumers a message inviting them to write a review in a predetermined amount of time after the purchase. It's a method widely used by online retailers, including Yahoo Shopping. The patent also covers the method of tracking who returns to rate products by asking them to click on a unique link in an e-mail. But the patent even covers collecting reviews by letting visitors to a Web site fill out a form. "

12 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. This is getting stupid by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would comment on the news article but it might be classed as a review and me or /. might get sued for patent infringement.

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    AT&ROFLMAO
    1. Re:This is getting stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      In other news, Wal*Mart has applied for a patent on using low, low prices..

    2. Re:This is getting stupid by justflatbroke · · Score: 2, Funny

      known as "intellectual property"
      but "intellectual" implies intelligence.
      The granting of these patents is stupid.

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      http://justflatbroke.syservcorp.com/
  2. Next in the queue by LochNess · · Score: 2, Funny

    Slashdot patents the blog.

  3. Bad news for LiveJournal by millennial · · Score: 3, Funny

    Current mood: Sued for allowing comments/reviews on user journals

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    I am scientifically inaccurate.
  4. Moderators by jgbishop · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of all the days to receive 5 moderator points! I guess there won't be any "comment reviewing" for me...

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    Go, and never darken my towels again! -- Rufus
  5. Wordage by millennial · · Score: 4, Funny

    When you submit the patent, word it as a "method for recombination of gamete DNA to form offspring." It sounds better than "taking the skin boat to tuna town."

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    I am scientifically inaccurate.
  6. My Review by IronicCheese · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm pretty unhappy with this patent and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I give it 0 out of 5 stars.

    Did you find this review helpful?
    [yes] [no]

    come get me, Amazon.

  7. Re:Productivity lost because of patents. by rovingeyes · · Score: 4, Funny
    Has anybody performed a study regarding the loss of productivity due to patents?

    Yes. In my study I found out that while researching this topic I was not productive at all. My productivity loss was 100% in fact. If I hadn't done that study, I'd have had at least 20% more productivity than total loss, which is my usual by the way.

    Let me know if you need the paper. It has enlightened me a lot, hope it does the same for you.

  8. Discovery Channel Store patent.... by corneliusagain · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hot news: Discovery Channel Store granted patent on having hot teenage girl outside blowing soap bubbles!

    1. Re:Discovery Channel Store patent.... by qazwsxqazwsx90 · · Score: 1, Funny


      hot teenage girl outside blowing


      You should know better than to use phrases like this on slashdot. You had me all excited for a moment.
  9. Re:And this is *why* it's getting stupid by Bob+McCown · · Score: 2, Funny

    And this is a bad thing how?

    </Big Business>