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1.  

   

   Simon Dallow, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 12:13am

   
   

   Absurd Patents

   Many patents are absurd. Quite a few are wrongly attributed (A.G.Bell?) This is unsurprising since, mostly, patent authourities are job creation schemes for those who understand the technology but couldn't be bothered to do it.

    

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2.  

   

   Amazon Buyer, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 12:34am

   
   

   is it even really that lucrative

   I buy a ton of junk at Amazon and I have never even considered using the one-click.

    

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3.  

   

   Alan Gerow (profile), Feb 24th, 2010 @ 7:17am

   
   

   I actually worked at BountyQuest for about 4 months at the end of '00. It was an interesting company, never quite got anything really going.

    

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4.  

   

   Flakey, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 7:58am

   
   

   I think we can all agree that both the copyright laws and the patent laws need some serious rewriting.
   
   Amazon's one click is no more deserving of protection than is IBM getting one for taking a ticket with a number to know when to be served. They're both absurd and they both have been done before so prior art will cancel it, provided it makes it to reconsideration.

    

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5.  

   

   AdamR (profile), Feb 24th, 2010 @ 9:18am

   
   

   How many millions do you think they have spent on this so far?

    

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6.  

   

   The Mad (Patent) Prosecutor, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 9:38am

   
   

   When will the pain end . . .

   Right, the clearly ridiculous patent that no one, at least thus far, has been able to invalidate despite spending tens of thousands of dollars (or perhaps a lot more) to invalidate. A rational person might conclude such was evidence of "nonridiculousness." But, then, we're talking the average techdirt reader, rather than a rational person . . .
   
   With no disrespect (really), it is painful to read these articles and comments on patents. I don't know much about computers, IT, etc. So, when I read these articles and comments on patents, it is as painful to me as it would be to you (gentle reader) if I wrote an article on how computers work, and described ants traveling through hollow tubes (wires) carrying zeros and ones.

    

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7.  

   

   Mike Masnick (profile), Feb 24th, 2010 @ 10:34am

   
   

   Re: When will the pain end . . .

   Right, the clearly ridiculous patent that no one, at least thus far, has been able to invalidate despite spending tens of thousands of dollars (or perhaps a lot more) to invalidate.
   
   Hmm. And yet the USPTO examiners have repeatedly rejected claims in the patent. Are you ignoring that?
   
   A rational person might conclude such was evidence of "nonridiculousness." But, then, we're talking the average techdirt reader, rather than a rational person . . .
   
   When you have no real argument, resort to insults.
   
   With no disrespect (really), it is painful to read these articles and comments on patents. I don't know much about computers, IT, etc. So, when I read these articles and comments on patents, it is as painful to me as it would be to you (gentle reader) if I wrote an article on how computers work, and described ants traveling through hollow tubes (wires) carrying zeros and ones.
   
   Ok. Simple question: do you honestly believe that the process for ordering a product online with a single click is non-obvious and deserving of a monopoly right?

    

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8.  

   

   Anonymous Coward, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 12:02pm

   
   

   Bogus

   ...Jeff Bezos (who a decade ago was a founder of a project to bust bogus patents)...
   
   Heh. Yeah, *other people's* bogus patents.

    

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9.  

   

   Alan Gerow (profile), Feb 24th, 2010 @ 12:17pm

   
   

   Re: Bogus

   It's funny because at the time Jeff Bezos recognized that the One-Click Patent was ridiculous, and even used it as an example of what's wrong with the patent system. But that hasn't stopped him from defending it vigorously at using it to sue competitors.

    

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10.  

    

    Spanky, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 5:16pm

    
    

    re

    I am now the patent holder of the technique of wiping one's ass. Its 5 bucks each wipe. Pay up, or I'll see y'all in court.

     

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11.  

    

    Sethumme, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 7:59pm

    
    

    Re: Re: When will the pain end . . .

    Exactly. Being unable to invalidate a patent does not necessarily mean the patent is fine. It could simply mean the process for invalidating patents is broken. The one-click patent is about as obvious as the bar tab. Or the hotel mini-fridge.

     

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12.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Feb 24th, 2010 @ 10:18pm

    
    

    Re: Bogus

    You're close, there's a lot more to this story than meets the eys. ;)

     

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13.  

    

    staff, Feb 25th, 2010 @ 6:41am

    
    

    shills!!

    "...demonstrating the ridiculous lengths to which one must go to invalidate a bad patent"
    
    Quite the opposite, actually. The PTO has become a rubber stamp for infringers. Anyone can cobble together bogus references to initiate a reexam. Yes, even the Patent Office has shills for large corporate infringers like you.

     

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