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Netflix Suing Blockbuster for Patent Infringement

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the there-can-be-only-one dept.

grouchomarxist writes "Netflix is suing Blockbuster for Patent Infringement. From the article: 'Netflix holds two U.S. patents for its business methodology, which calls for subscribers to pay a monthly fee to select and rent DVDs from the company's Web site and to maintain a list of titles telling Netflix in which order to ship the films, according to the patents, which were included as exhibits in the lawsuit. The first patent, granted in 2003, covers the method by which Netflix customers select and receive a certain number of movies at a time, and return them for more titles. The second patent, issued on Tuesday, "covers a method for subscription-based online rental that allows subscribers to keep the DVDs they rent for as long as they wish without incurring any late fees, to obtain new DVDs without incurring additional charges and to prioritize and reprioritize their own personal dynamic queue -- of DVDs to be rented," the lawsuit said.'"

8 of 410 comments (clear)

  1. Worried! by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 4, Funny
    Does this also cover my shopping list at Asda (Walmart)?

    I am really worried. Any minute now, someone will patent going to work by bus. (Including SCSI and VME)

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    1. Re:Worried! by Eccles · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm in the process of patenting my invention, I call it "money".

      *Looks in wallet*

      Well, I'm not infringing...

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      Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
  2. a sad time by tont0r · · Score: 5, Funny

    next 7-11 will sue circle K because they both run the same business.

    1. Re:a sad time by QuantumPion · · Score: 5, Funny

      1) Patent "the process of exchanging goods or services for finiancial reimbursement"

      2) Sue the entire world, muahahahaha

      3) Profit!

  3. Re:Broken beyond repair by mtenhagen · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just wait until someone tries to change the patent system. I bet all patent systems are patented already.

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    200GB/2TB $7.95 Coupon: SAVE90DOLLAR
  4. My beer shopping patent by ip_freely_2000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    A method in which I look in the fridge on a regular basis and realize it is empty. I then get in the car and drive to the beer store to replenish my supply of beer.

    You all owe me.

  5. Re:Score another one... by varmittang · · Score: 3, Funny

    Nope, I got that patent already. And if you want to make a bowel movement, I got that one too. So pay up.

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  6. Re:My friend at Netflix by scribblej · · Score: 3, Funny

    When blockbuster initially tried to compete with Nflix, the Nflix folks were a bit scared, including my buddy who was worried about the future of the company he helped develop - however, after Nflix's somewhat recent resurgence & increased user subscription, which in turn boosted the stock prices from all time lows, blockbuster has become a non-issue to Nflix (well at least to my buddy and most of the staff)

    You got something against E.T.?

    Eeeeeliiiiooooot...