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IBM Wants To Patent Restaurant Waits

Posted by kdawson on from the no-rewards-or-we'll-sue dept.

theodp writes "If all goes IBM's way, it'll soon constitute patent infringement if Bennigan's gives you a free lunch for being inconvenienced by a long wait for your meal. Big Blue is seeking a patent for its Method and Structure for Automated Crediting to Customers for Waiting, the purported 'invention' of three IBM researchers, which IBM notes, 'could be implemented completely devoid of computerization or automation of any kind.' Can we count on IBM to withdraw this patent claim, or will Big Blue weasel out of its patent reform pledge again?"

2 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. Its called courtesy, stupid. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I've read about alot of patent-related stupidity, but this one seems like a new low.

  2. Puhleeze... by binaryspiral · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Will this insanity stop at the USPO?