eBay May Lose 'Buy it Now' Button in Patent Case 177
Spamicles writes "A judge has delayed his ruling on the eBay patent infringement case. eBay has been involved in a legal dispute over the use of its popular "Buy it Now" button, which allows consumers to skip the bidding and purchase items on eBay directly. The patent suit was filed six years ago by MercExchange L.L.C. In May of 2003, a jury ruled in MercExchange's favor finding that eBay did in fact infringe on the patent, but in 2005 the US Supreme Court ruled that MercExchange was not automatically entitled to a court order blocking the offending service, essentially handing a victory down to patent reform advocates. However, the ruling by the Supreme Court does not affect the final judgment of the court."
Yeah (Score:5, Funny)
Guess they'll just have to make it... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Guess they'll just have to make it... (Score:5, Funny)
Alternative (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Guess they'll just have to make it... (Score:3, Funny)
"Buy something now!" (think "I'm feeling lucky!")
"Buyz it now!" (think "P2P")
Hey, this patenting thing is a lot easier than I thought!
Hey..I patented that... (Score:2, Funny)
Aye!! You just sneezed!! I have a patent on this style of sneezing! Pay me $$$$ !!
Aye! You just did a double click using the mouse! I own the patent for double clicking! Pay me now!!
Aye!! You just farted!! It smells crap!! ta-da..patent... I will sue ya!!
I wonder what other patents were granted in the past...
Or create a different button with the same fxn... (Score:5, Funny)
Purchase now?
Screw the bidding?
Screw the bidders?
Screw Flanders?
A Very Simple Summary Breakdown (Score:5, Funny)
Ebay negotiates a license - How much you want?
Ebay doesn't get a license - Whoa! That's too much
Ebay intentionally uses it anyway - What are they gonna do, sue us?
MercExchange brings a lawsuit against Ebay - Yes
Judge rules in favor of MercExchange - I can see your name on the patent
Judge misapplies injuction process - this stuff is complicated
Ebay appeals the injuction - HaHa! a technicality
Judges rule that the injunction was done wrong - I can see the process wasn't followed
Judges also comment on current patent law - this shit sucks
MercExchange requests the injunction be applied permanently - we hate Ebay
Ebay requests postponement until patent is reassessed - No rush, we can wait 10 years
Judge must now make a decision - damned if I do, damned if I don't
Heh (Score:5, Funny)
And will they take the license fee in game money, since that's all that changes virtual hands? I can just see a party of lawyers riding to Ironforge and Orgrimmar to demand their license fees.
Well, the dwarves might even pay up, but I'd worry about trying to collect from the Orcs. I doubt anyone explained to Thrall yet how the license system works. And troll tribes tend to kill each other on sight, so I'd advise the patent trolls to stay clear of the Darkspear trolls
Re:The ultimate in stupid patents (Score:1, Funny)
You can patent anything from daily life by adding, "on the Internet" to it. For example, "getting up out of bed each morning and taking a piss" is clearly covered by prior art, but "getting up out of bed each morning and taking a piss on the Internet" was patentable (up until I posted this comment which should count as prior art).
You can do the same thing with other communication mediums: A method for ordering pita delivery (which is clearly covered by prior art), but then add...
on a mobile phone...
over a microwave relay link...
though an underwater hyrdophone...
by courier pigeon...
through a standalone kiosk with a touch screen...
etc...
And just like that you have a new innovative creation to push our modern idea driven economy forward!
Please look for my upcoming book entitled, How to Become a Modern Thomas Edison: the Art and Culture of Clubbing Your Competitors With Timeless Innovation.
Re:E-bay needs "overtime" bidding (Score:2, Funny)
Yes. I think this is their entire business strategy.
Please excuse me (Score:2, Funny)
Howabout
"Buy it later"
"Buy it this afternoon"
"Buy it with tea and crumpets"
"But it yesterday"
"But it whenever the hell you want"
"Just don't buy it"
"Huh?"
"Don't buy this, buy my socks"
?
(ok, the last one was a reach)
Re:A Very Simple Summary Breakdown (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Or create a different button with the same fxn. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Guess they'll just have to make it... (Score:3, Funny)
This shit keeps up, and before you know it we'll be required to pay some stupid company every time we use a butter knife to spread jam on a slice of bread. What? Too obvious? Yeah, NO SHIT!!!
Patents are a good idea, but the system has been rendered so completely and utterly fubar that I really truly do not think it is even remotely salvageable.
Re:Yeah (Score:2, Funny)
Shaming."
hmmm right direction, but... how about "Shenanigans"
Barbrady: "People of South Park, do you declare Shenanigans on the carnival people?"
angry mob: Yeah!
Barbrady: Okay, carnival people, do you accept this decree of Shenanigans?
Woman:
Barbrady: Well, that settles it! Everybody grab a broom, it's Shenanigans!
(the mob cheers; brooms, pitchforks, and lit torches are already in their hands. They lay about the carnival people with great enthusiasm)
Necessary Option (Score:4, Funny)
Meanwhile, in other news ... (Score:3, Funny)