IBM Wants To Patent Restaurant Waits 154
theodp writes "If all goes IBM's way, it'll soon constitute patent infringement if Bennigan's gives you a free lunch for being inconvenienced by a long wait for your meal. Big Blue is seeking a patent for its Method and Structure for Automated Crediting to Customers for Waiting, the purported 'invention' of three IBM researchers, which IBM notes, 'could be implemented completely devoid of computerization or automation of any kind.' Can we count on IBM to withdraw this patent claim, or will Big Blue weasel out of its patent reform pledge again?"
Re:The old saying must be true. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The old saying must be true. (Score:3, Insightful)
Enough is enough (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:quick (Score:3, Insightful)
That's okay as long as the beer is free.
Re:The old saying must be true. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:The old saying must be true. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Wow (Score:3, Insightful)
An idea about how to do something obvious is not a fucking "system".
Is there any way we can get that taped above every patent reviewer's desk?
Re:Its called courtesy, stupid. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Automation IS required (Score:5, Insightful)
If you are being critical of the patent office the difference is very important, if you are being critical of the applicant, not so much so.
No Shit Shirlock (Score:3, Insightful)
It's still ridiculous to even apply for this. It is blatantly obvious since all it is doing is automating something that already exists in a non-novel way. Way to troll for stupid patents dude.