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Amazon Patents Bad Gift Protection
theodp writes "Thanks to the inventors at Amazon.com, you needn't fear Aunt Martha any longer. On Tuesday, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos received a patent for a bad gift defense system that intercepts gifts you don't want and instead sends you something that you actually do want. For example, Amazon explains that its 'System and Method for Converting Gifts' would allow you to set up a rule like 'Convert all gifts from Aunt Mildred,' which would automatically convert any online gift orders from your well-meaning-but-tasteless Auntie into a gift certificate. Other examples of how the system might be used: You could convert bad gifts to something off your wish list; block specific products ('Not another XYZ comic strip calendar'); or ensure that any clothing gifts match your exact size ('Check clothes sizes first')."
Yes, that "without the initial delivery" is what makes there no prior art, and a very cool idea.
So basically it's a system that allows you to be a jerk? You're automatically turning every gift into cash!
Presumably if you're such a jerk, you won't be getting many gifts anyway...
It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
Yeah, I just don't understand why it's not socially acceptable to just send people cash.
To me, the sending of cash is probably the rudest gift giving of all. It amounts to I am compelled to give you a gift but I don't know anything about you at all, so rather than be involved in your life and learning about your experiences I'll send this cash in the off chance that you will buy something for yourself and somehow link the emotion of that buying to me.
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