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')."

Comments

Automatic? Just let me know.

[chemicaldave]

Instead of trying to make an educated guess about what I would or would not want, just let me know beforehand that you might have an order coming to me that I don't want. Then let me decide if I want it in gift certificate form.

Re:Automatic? Just let me know.

[hodet]

....or how about not being a spoiled brat and accepting Aunt Mildreds gift with a little gratitude and respect. There is a saying, "don't look a gift horse in the mouth".

Re:Automatic? Just let me know.

[Anonymous Coward]

Or how about not giving gifts to people in the first place simply because the calendar said to?

I only give gifts to small children on birthdays and Christmas. Everybody else gets them when I find something they might like - regardless of what day it is.

Re:Automatic? Just let me know.

[Locke2005]

I've got a better idea. Every year, let's mutually agree on an amount, say $20. I'll mail you a check for $20, and you mail me a check for $20, then we can both go out and buy exactly what we want!

Re:Missing Skill

[chemicaldave]

Oh really?

Isn't this illegal under consumer protection laws?

[WillAffleckUW]

Under commerce laws, a contract is signed between a consumer and a company to perform a service.

The NON-action of that service - the unwanted gift ORDERED and PAID FOR by the consumer Aunt Milly - is a direct and actionable defrauding of service and a contractual BREACH by Amazon.

I smell a massive consumer lawsuit that Amazon will lose.

Amazon enters into the contract to deliver the goods and services specified. They are the AGENT of Aunt Milly.

Anything other than a good-faith effort to fulfill that contract is an act of FRAUD.

Re:How about...

[falsified]

Not (really) obvious, no prior art, kind of a cool idea. I kind of think patents for things that aren't physical objects are BS, but if we're going to allow them at all, then this seems like one we should allow.

"With a Computer"

[FranTaylor]

It's just like fortune cookies.

Append "in bed" and you get a laugh.

Append "with a computer" and you get a software patent.

I understand the concept

[OzPeter]

However I believe (IMHO) it is not solving the fundamental problem.

A gift from person A to person B should be a symbol saying "I know you, and I believe that you should have this gift I am giving you". If person B is not receiving a desired gift from person A then there are at least 2 issues at stake:

1. Person A doesn't really know Person B - in which case why are they obligated to send a gift, and whose fault is it for the lack of knowledge?
2. Person B does not care about Person A, and instead selfishly only wants the gifts that they want and as such ignores the feelings/beliefs of person A - in which case again, why are gifts being sent?

So the fundamental problem is the lack of a proper relationship between Person A and Person B, and that this patent application goes to weaken all such relationships by automatically sweeping the real issues under the electronic carpet.

Re:Isn't this illegal under consumer protection la

[Dthief]

Not if you opt into it via Amazon's terms of service.

You just will no longer be creating the same contract. The contract will now read this item will be offered to the recipient, which he/she can accept or exchange for credit towards another purchase.

Re:How about...

[The Dancing Panda]

Yes, that "without the initial delivery" is what makes there no prior art, and a very cool idea.