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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. "

6 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. No theoretical proof needed! by dada21 · · Score: 5, Interesting



    Whenever I call for an end to copyright and IP, people ask for the theory behind a copyopen world. They say the world isn't black and white, that we just need more laws to balance copyright and copy rights.

    What is a patent? It is lending government's monopoly on the use of force. It is completely incompatible with freedom. When some law is made giving 1 person in 10,000 the unique power of force, there is a problem. This patent hells ezos and the top shareholders, not the average employee of Amazon.

    If I tell you that you can't eat an orange, you'll tell me to shove it. Rather than explain why eating an orange is bad and convincing you, I'm going to use government to force you to stop. If you don't, you go to court. If you refuse the court, out come the guns.

    To those who believe their livelihood depends on copyright and patent, I call shens. I've written two books that are "freely" copyable. In both I request $20 to acquire my official version and help motivate me to write more. Guess what? I get the money. Often. With the web, it is even easier to make money this way.

    Patents and copyright are dead. Use your talents to build and convince, not build and coerce. What you invent likely came from seeing the inventions of others and making a new or better way to do something. If you want to cut off others from bettering your idea, then make another, better version.

    BTW, I stopped using Amazon years ago. I prefer buying local, and promoting my own businesses while I do. Local store owners, managers and employees then hire me rather than going online. It is a nice circle of barter and trade rather than padding UPS' and Bezos' pockets. I have no shortage of work for myself and any of my employees, who also refuse Amazon as they know their lives depend on our neighbors.

  2. Productivity lost because of patents. by CyricZ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Has anybody performed a study regarding the loss of productivity due to patents? Indeed, not only is there the issue of conducting numerous patent searches during the development of a new product, but also the resources spent on legal action regarding patents.

    The time and money spent on such actions could be put towards far better activities.

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  3. How Amazon could be my Hero... by Anonymous+Monkey · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I think it would be cool if they announced that this patent would never EVER be enforced. They only took out the patent to protect themselves from some troll-company pulling an SCO, and they would be very happy if every one viewed this as copy-left material.

    I doubt it will happen, but if that was there plan it would make me prefer them above all other online retailers..

    --
    We are the Borg...
  4. But what if someone steals your work? by JayBlalock · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I'm asking this in all seriousness. Let's say you write the next Great American Novel. The next Gone With the Wind or Catcher in the Rye or whatever. And you sell a few copies, but a large publisher sees it. They grab the book, print it themselves, mass-market it, and stick, I don't know, CDs or DVDs or something to make sure their edition of the book is so good no one would ever buy yours.

    And you would be OK with them reaping the profit from your work?

    --
    Bush: He's Liberal in all the wrong ways.
    1. Re:But what if someone steals your work? by jeffasselin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Remove "copy"-right and replace it with "profit"-fight.

      Only the author can PROFIT from sale of his work. That would allow me to sell me book and allow anyone to copy it, but if someone else tried to sell it (excluding base reproduction cost), that wouldn't be legal.

      --
      If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
    2. Re:But what if someone steals your work? by dada21 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Good question. If I want to try to sell 100,000 copies, I'd have to go through exactly what you described. I've had offers for my works, and the money sucks. In fact, most mass published books lose money.

      I have no problems letting others distribute my work, even under their names. 30 years ago? Maybe I'd mind. But with the web, I could upload my works to various "First Author" sites (which I bet WOULD exist in a copyopen world) and then readers would know who really authored it.

      Right now, I am tempted by two publishing deals strictly for ego and fame. Yet the money is better in self-publishing and self-marketing. I can speak to 50 people at $10/head and sell 20 copies of my book, signed, at $25. I make $1000, spend $200, for 2 hours of work. $400 per hour!