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McDonalds Files To Patent Making a Sandwich
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "McDonalds has applied for patent WO2006068865, which carries the title 'METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SANDWICH.' John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, can eat his heart out (unless that's been patented, too). Undoubtedly, some people are contemplating whether there's anything novel in this patent that is somehow obscured by its generic title. Feel free to examine their flowchart for yourself and see exactly how novel their sandwich 'subroutines' are. The good news is that, given that it only mentions generic sandwich making 'tool(s),' rather than any specific machine, it might not survive after the In Re Bilski decision, which was meant to put a stop to absurdities such as this. But until McDonalds's application is rejected or invalidated, make sure you don't use their flowchart when making sandwiches. After all, if you 'apply appropriate condiments to appropriate compartment,' you might infringe upon their IP."
if you 'apply appropriate condiments to appropriate compartment
Thank god all of my condiments are inappropriate.
A lot of my compartments as well for that matter
I can has cheezburger patent?
I was just stacking bread without asking myself the tough questions like McDonalds did. My paper hat is off to them.
The Earl of Sandwich called, and he wants a slice.
If it includes holding the pickle and holding the lettuce, there's prior art.
xkcd explains how to get a sandwich.
Did any parts of sandwich drop onto floor?
If yes, have fewer than 5 seconds elapsed?
If yes, pick up and continue with procedure...
im in ur patent office
approvin teh obveeyus
My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
Until they ask for a bailout citing "home cooking is killing the restraunt industry"
Make SELinux enforcing again!
Well, there's standard, and there's extra-crispy.
Humour, along with honesty is removed as part of a law degree isnt it?
Q. Now, Mrs. Johnson, how was your first marriage terminated?
A. By death.
Q. And by whose death was it terminated?
Source.
McDonalds is now serving their food in a trough?
I see they have finally acknowledged their food is swill.
Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
Only on Slashdot would this be modded funny instead of insightful or informative.
Good, inexpensive web hosting
"It covers the "simultaneous toasting of a bread component" "
-a.k.a. placing the bread in a toaster.
"The assembly tool contains a "cavity" into which the sandwich-maker places the garnish ("including, but not limited to, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, chilli, coleslaw, giardinera, peppers, spinach, radishes, olives, egg, cooked bacon and cheese") and the condiments ("ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, sauces, relish, oils, salt, pepper, barbecue sauce, steak sauce, hot sauce, dressings including salad dressings, yogurt, butter, margarine and liquid or semi-liquid cheese")"
-a.k.a. a Spoon or Ladle.
""Typically, a sandwich filling will thereafter be placed in the bread component,""
-a.k.a. Putting the ingredients onto bread.
"A "bread component" is then placed over the cavity and the assembly tool "inverted" to tip out the contents."
-Turning over the spoon or ladle and letting the ingredients fall onto the bread.
"It also describes how to make cocktail sandwiches, by taking a full-sized version that is "cut up into smaller pieces"."
-a.k.a. Cutting up a larger sandwich into smaller pieces.
""Often the sandwich filling is the source of the name of the sandwich, for example - ham sandwich.""
-a.k.a. Naming the sandwich after it's contents.
Wow..... McDonalds *IS* getting desperate.....
Knowing Google's lust for data collection, the Soviet Union is still alive and well inside the psyche of Sergey Brin....
The theory of relativity gave us atomic weapons, whereas incompetent patent offices give us patents on making a sandwich. It's obvious that Albert Einstein's change of profession was a mistake humanity has suffered from ever since.
Property is theft.
I was thinking about what part of this could be considered unique. The three decisions in the flow chart have certainly been made before.
So I thought that maybe the tool was a custom application:
"Place heated bread product over tool(s) with the crown over the crown cavity and the heel over the heel cavity"
But prior art for this tool = my hands.
I feel so much better knowing I can only burn myself to the second degree with their stupid overpriced coffee.
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
Somebody set up us the sandwich
We get order
(What?)
Main machine turn on
(It's you!)
How are you, may I take order?
All your burgers are belong to us
You are on the way to construction
(What you say?)
You have no chance to fry, make your time
Ha ha ha
Manager !!
Take off every 'ZIG'
You know what you doing
Move 'ZIG'
For great cheesburgers
Disclaimer: I am not god.
We may not be created equal
But we can be treated equal.