Slashdot Mirror
Amazon Scores Gift-Delivery Patent
theodp writes "In May, the USPTO rejected Amazon.com's patent claims (PDF) for its Method and System for Placing a Purchase Order Via a Communications Network (a 1-Click spin-off). At the time, a USPTO Examiner cited Bilski, explaining that elements of CEO Jeff Bezos' gift-delivery invention 'may be performed largely within the human mind,' coming to essentially the same conclusion a NY Post reporter arrived at in 2002. But Amazon's attorneys have worked their legal wordsmithing magic (PDF), convincing the USPTO that 'obtaining delivery information for a gift from one or more information sources other than the gift giver and recipient' is indeed novel and patentable. A Notice of Allowance for the patent was mailed to Amazon on November 17th, just in time for Holiday Season injunction-giving!"
Get off my tits! - patent pending.
Boycott Amazon? No way. They've got low prices, typically fast, free shipping (especially if you're sharing an Amazon Prime account), and one of the best on-line shopping interfaces around. Now if they get big enough that they start abusing their power and are no longer the cheapest/fastest/easiest solution around, I'll shift over to whoever is. They may have buried their competition, but more will emerge if they get too greedy.
And if they pull shady stuff (and frankly I don't know enough about this move to make an intelligent call on whether they're being evil or innovative in this case), and want to tack on 0.01% of my soul to the purchase price but still save me $5, I'd say that's a generous offer for a small share of a liberally tarnished soul.
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.