Federal government supports "Buy It Now" patent

Vikingod · Mar 13, 2006, 02:43 PM

In the world of patent disputes, the recently settled tiff between patent holding company NTP and Research In Motion, makers of the popular BlackBerry has dominated the scene for the past year or so. At the same time that battle was being played out, another case of infringement was wending its way through the federal court system. This one involves eBay and a company called MercExchange LLC, which says eBay's popular "Buy It Now" auction feature violates patents held by MercExchange.

The Office of the Solicitor General of the United States has filed a brief with the Supreme Court, taking the side of MercExchange. In it, the Solicitor General's Office argues that eBay should be barred from using Buy It Now due to the decision of two lower courts that upheld MercExchange's patents.
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Read More / Source: ars technica

Matth · Mar 13, 2006, 04:00 PM

Beats me why such a thing should be patentable at all, since it is an obvious progression that can be logically arrived at.

The whole idea that, just by being first to get some bit of paper that puts your name to an idea, you can then extort large sums of money from anyone else that comes up with the same idea, is completely wrong.

Contrast with copyright, where the code developed to implement a feature deserves proptection, though other solutions can then be arrived at.

Blurayfan · Mar 13, 2006, 06:00 PM

How is something like this infringement. IMO this is the same as purchasing & checking out at any other website that don't use auctions. Ebay just gave it a nice name to make certain the buyer knew it was nolonger part of an auction.

Mar 13, 2006, 02:43 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,187 Rep Power: 109 System Specs	Federal government supports "Buy It Now" patent In the world of patent disputes, the recently settled tiff between patent holding company NTP and Research In Motion, makers of the popular BlackBerry has dominated the scene for the past year or so. At the same time that battle was being played out, another case of infringement was wending its way through the federal court system. This one involves eBay and a company called MercExchange LLC, which says eBay's popular "Buy It Now" auction feature violates patents held by MercExchange. The Office of the Solicitor General of the United States has filed a brief with the Supreme Court, taking the side of MercExchange. In it, the Solicitor General's Office argues that eBay should be barred from using Buy It Now due to the decision of two lower courts that upheld MercExchange's patents. _________ Read More / Source: ars technica __________________ *How You Can Help DriverHeaven By Using Digg*

Mar 13, 2006, 04:00 PM	#2
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,411 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Beats me why such a thing should be patentable at all, since it is an obvious progression that can be logically arrived at. The whole idea that, just by being first to get some bit of paper that puts your name to an idea, you can then extort large sums of money from anyone else that comes up with the same idea, is completely wrong. Contrast with copyright, where the code developed to implement a feature deserves proptection, though other solutions can then be arrived at. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread

Mar 13, 2006, 06:00 PM	#3
Blurayfan HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: USA Posts: 178 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	How is something like this infringement. IMO this is the same as purchasing & checking out at any other website that don't use auctions. Ebay just gave it a nice name to make certain the buyer knew it was nolonger part of an auction.