Google Patent Proposes $2 Fee To Skip Commercials

theodp writes "A day after Google debuted its new Google TV website, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 7,806,329 to the search giant for its Targeted Video Advertising invention. Among other things, the patent proposes having viewers take 5-10 minutes to 'fill out a consumer survey and perhaps to provide additional information such as a mailing address survey before starting the program' to avoid having to watch 10 minutes of commercials. 'As another alternative,' the patent continues, 'the broadcaster may offer the users an option to pay $2 (such as through a micro-payment system, such as GBuy) to exchange for skipping all commercials.' More from the patent: 'The system may allow a user to skip all of the promotions that they want to skip, but may also require the user to fully watch at least four promotions before the program will continue. Likewise, the system may require the user to follow activities that generate a certain amount of advertising revenue or advertising points (e.g., that may correspond directly or indirectly to advertising revenues) before the program will continue.'"

Comments

Nothing is free

[t1oracle]

Silly people. How many of you would go to work if your boss decided that paying you was unnecessary and that you should learn to be less "greedy." We live in capitalistic society, if you want something you have to pay for it. The rest of you communists can go to Cuba.

Re:Greed

[MozeeToby]

now you will have to excuse me, I have some Dexter to watch

You rant about how you're sick of all the commercials, but you need to go watch a show that is shown without commercials. Sorry, but you're part of the problem. The content creators are addressing your complaints and your response is "I'm not paying for content". Wonderful... I'm sure that will solve the problems in no time.

Re:Alamo Drafthouse

[geekoid]

I dont go to a movie to here people smacking away at their food.
Its fine for cult movies, old movies. Not for 1st run.

I also find how people smacking there lips and slurping their beer are fine, but sitting quietly and texting is 'wrong'.

And yeah, I live near Portland, and work in Portland, and have gone to those theaters to see some cult classics.