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DVD-by-Mail Services Cleared In Patent Troll Case

Posted by timothy on from the in-the-mail-system-no-one-knows-you're-a-dog dept.

eldavojohn writes "Media Queue holds the rights to patent 7389243 which is simply a patent on the notification system (like e-mail) to users of changes in the status of their DVD rental queues. Of course, they filed suit in a random place against Netflix, Blockbuster and everyone else sending e-mail updates about DVD-by-Mail services. It was later moved to California and was dismissed last week. In related news on the ailing patent system, the USPTO unveiled a new plan to reduce backlog in its system by offering pending patents special examiner status if the holder abandons another co-pending unexamined application."

3 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. special status means more work, not less by Xiph · · Score: 0, Redundant

    special status just means that people will file extra co-patents, so their existing patents can get special examiner status.
    It might cost a little bit more, but to some companies, that will probably be peanuts, compared to the value of "special examiner"-status.

    of course, more patent claims = more money for them, and since they can discard the co-pending patent, it means more money for a tiny bit of work.

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    Blah blah sig blah blah blah irony blah blah
  2. This is dumb by Geoffrey.landis · · Score: 0, Redundant

    From the summary: "the USPTO unveiled a new plan to reduce backlog in its system by offering pending patents special examiner status if the holder abandons another co-pending unexamined application."

    Dumb!

    They're basically saying, if you want your patent examined fast, submit some other "dummy" patent applications that you can then abandon as needed to get special status. They don't understand that telling people to submit more patent applications if they want faster service will result in more work, not less??

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    http://www.geoffreylandis.com
  3. Sounds like USPTO offering special pricing... by misnohmer · · Score: 0, Redundant

    So if I want special status, I file my patent together with a dummy patent I know will never clear, drop the dummy patent to get special status for the primary one. It would have been so much simpler to say "pay double for special status" and "get a refund credit for any patent you don't care about".