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eBay May Lose 'Buy it Now' Button in Patent Case

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the ain't-it-obvious-yet dept.

Spamicles writes "A judge has delayed his ruling on the eBay patent infringement case. eBay has been involved in a legal dispute over the use of its popular "Buy it Now" button, which allows consumers to skip the bidding and purchase items on eBay directly. The patent suit was filed six years ago by MercExchange L.L.C. In May of 2003, a jury ruled in MercExchange's favor finding that eBay did in fact infringe on the patent, but in 2005 the US Supreme Court ruled that MercExchange was not automatically entitled to a court order blocking the offending service, essentially handing a victory down to patent reform advocates. However, the ruling by the Supreme Court does not affect the final judgment of the court."

6 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Guess they'll just have to make it... by GroundBounce · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Buy it later"

    1. Re:Guess they'll just have to make it... by PresidentEnder · · Score: 5, Funny

      How about "Skip bidding?"

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  2. Alternative by kmahan · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Buy it after waiting 1 second" button.

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  3. Or create a different button with the same fxn... by feedmetrolls · · Score: 5, Funny

    Buy it immediately?
    Purchase now?
    Screw the bidding?
    Screw the bidders?
    Screw Flanders?

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  4. A Very Simple Summary Breakdown by Nymz · · Score: 5, Funny

    MercExchange patents 'buy it now' - Thank You!
    Ebay negotiates a license - How much you want?
    Ebay doesn't get a license - Whoa! That's too much
    Ebay intentionally uses it anyway - What are they gonna do, sue us?
    MercExchange brings a lawsuit against Ebay - Yes
    Judge rules in favor of MercExchange - I can see your name on the patent
    Judge misapplies injuction process - this stuff is complicated
    Ebay appeals the injuction - HaHa! a technicality
    Judges rule that the injunction was done wrong - I can see the process wasn't followed
    Judges also comment on current patent law - this shit sucks
    MercExchange requests the injunction be applied permanently - we hate Ebay
    Ebay requests postponement until patent is reassessed - No rush, we can wait 10 years
    Judge must now make a decision - damned if I do, damned if I don't

  5. Heh by Moraelin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Heh. Given that, say, the in-game auction house on WoW has an instant buy option too, I wonder how long until they'll want their cut there too.

    And will they take the license fee in game money, since that's all that changes virtual hands? I can just see a party of lawyers riding to Ironforge and Orgrimmar to demand their license fees.

    Well, the dwarves might even pay up, but I'd worry about trying to collect from the Orcs. I doubt anyone explained to Thrall yet how the license system works. And troll tribes tend to kill each other on sight, so I'd advise the patent trolls to stay clear of the Darkspear trolls ;)

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