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McDonalds Files To Patent Making a Sandwich

Posted by kdawson on from the mayo-gets-its-own-claim dept.

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."

12 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. Safe! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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

    1. Re:Safe! by LaskoVortex · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just like a bunch of /.ers. First they want to pirate songs they don't own licenses for and now they want to make sandwiches without licensing the process from Mickey Ds.

      --
      Just callin' it like I see it.
    2. Re:Safe! by veganboyjosh · · Score: 4, Funny

      i've always preferred open sandwiches myself.

  2. cheezburgers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can has cheezburger patent?

    1. Re:cheezburgers? by mpaque · · Score: 5, Funny

      I haz a prior art. What I do wif it?

    2. Re:cheezburgers? by aliquis · · Score: 4, Funny

      eat it

  3. and here I was wondering how to make a sandwich by dspkable · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was just stacking bread without asking myself the tough questions like McDonalds did. My paper hat is off to them.

    1. Re:and here I was wondering how to make a sandwich by Eberlin · · Score: 4, Funny

      Not even McDonalds remembered to sudo make that sandwich... Obligatory XKCD Reference: http://xkcd.com/149/

  4. Prior Art by owlnation · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Earl of Sandwich called, and he wants a slice.

  5. hai! by Mateo_LeFou · · Score: 5, Funny

    im in ur patent office
    approvin teh obveeyus

    --
    My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
  6. Re:So What? by renegadesx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Until they ask for a bailout citing "home cooking is killing the restraunt industry"

    --
    Make SELinux enforcing again!
  7. Historic Tragedies by mqduck · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.