Don't think IP patents are out of control? See this!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-04 04:02pm

http://www.youmaybenext.com

...a company in San Diego, Pangea Intellectual Properties (PanIP LLC) is suing companies all across the country. They claim that if you use graphical and textual information on a video screen for purposes of making a sale, then you are infringing on their patent. US Patent No 5,576,951.

And if you accept information to conduct automatic financial transactions via a telephone line & video screen, you're infringing on their patent. US Patent No. 6,289,319

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-03-04 04:04pm

So, wouldn't this include pretty much everyone doing business in America these days with a computer?

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2003-03-04 04:04pm

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-03-04 04:04pm

Okay..............they are fucking nuts.

Yeah next thing is someone suing people because of their patent upon pencil writings.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-03-04 04:05pm

Shit...that thing was filed in 1994 and granted in 1996. AFAIK, no prior art exists for this (unlike the infamous hyperlink patent). As far as the telephone line thing goes, ATMs probably work as prior art.

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2003-03-04 04:06pm

o_0

I'm going to patent aerobic breathing.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-03-04 04:07pm

This suing for money is getting WAY too out of control. When will it ever stop???

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-03-04 04:12pm

The only positive to this is that these swine are, much like the ambulance chasers, killing the goose that laid the golden egg. The more outrageous the patent lawsuits, the faster we get patent reform.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-03-04 04:19pm

Damn. That's just stupid.

Hmm, maybe I should patent stupidity. Whenever, someone is or does something stupid, I get money. With this type of shit happening, I'll be a trillionaire.

Neko001 · Post by **Neko001** » 2003-03-04 04:35pm

Someone should blow these people up, or torture them til they die to show them how stupid they are.

Cpt_Frank · Post by **Cpt_Frank** » 2003-03-04 04:35pm

it is actually possible to patent such things???

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-04 04:44pm

This is how the system works in America. These assholes patent something thanks to a patent office that has clearly demonstrated glaring incompetence and/or corruption to allow such patents to go through. Then, they turn around and bludgeon hundreds of small companies with lawsuits in search of quick settlements. They do NOT go after the giants because the giants would crush them in court and have a lot at stake, but small companies lack those resources and so are easy pickings. Drain them for legal fees with this bullshit and then offer each company a settlement which will save them money in the long run. All thanks to the US patent office and shitty American lawsuit regulation.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-03-04 04:44pm

Sadly, in this day and age, yes.

Shadowhawk · Post by **Shadowhawk** » 2003-03-04 04:54pm

Well, if you actually read the patent, it's not quite as disgusting as the article makes it out to be--they claim a patent on using a certain type of data mining to automatically create a customized, individualized sales presentation.

It's not as if they've patented something that, say, QVC has been using for years. They do, however, seem to be claiming that Amazon doing things like "If you liked this book, you might like this one" or "You've bought the last six issues of this magazine; would you like a subscription?".
And, frankly, since the patent entered the process in '94, they may very well be in the right. However, since they seemingly haven't enforced the patent and only now are going after people for violation, judges should simply dismiss the cases.

The second patent is even more specific--it involves a credit check and a simulated application loan officer on a special-use terminal--something no one, anywhere, could be infringing on.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2003-03-04 04:54pm

What I hate is the fact that yankee companies are patenting genes.

GENES FOR FUCKS SAKE!

Crazy_Vasey · Post by **Crazy_Vasey** » 2003-03-04 05:01pm

I thought non obvious was part of the criteria for granting a patent?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-04 05:09pm

Ted wrote:What I hate is the fact that yankee companies are patenting genes.

GENES FOR FUCKS SAKE!

They can try and do that, but the day ANY company owns a part of my genome and has to sue me to use their binary algorithms to send data over the Web is the day humanity has lost all hope.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2003-03-04 05:14pm

Don't we all love how frivilous lawsuits are rampant, these days?

Grr...

Friggen shameless idiots who will do anything for a buck, whether they deserve it or not.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-03-04 05:26pm

And the Democrats and their pals in the Trial Lawyer's Association are squealing like stuck pigs because Bush is trying to get limp-dicked, quasi-reform through Congress. Christ knows how they'd react to loser pays rules, liability limitations, and more leeway for judges to throw out suits.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » 2003-03-04 06:38pm

This is just fucking ridiculous. Well, I'm off to patent the english language. Then I'll sue everyone...

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-03-04 07:19pm

I'll patent life

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-04 07:26pm

Ted wrote:What I hate is the fact that yankee companies are patenting genes.

GENES FOR FUCKS SAKE!

That's only being done with ones artificially created or altered.

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2003-03-04 07:26pm

Shinova wrote:I'll patent life

Ah, but you are born only once, while you breath once every couple of seconds.

Therefore, I'll be way richer than you.

[Patent for aerobic breathing accepted and given to Olrik, Colonel]

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-04 07:28pm

*Patents energy*

By replying your making us of my patented substance in a multitude of ways.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-03-04 07:29pm

Ok, I patent atoms then. Everything in the fucking universe owes me BIGTIME.