Amazon can't patent 1-Click after all

February 15, 2001 5:35 AM

Amazon can't patent 1-Click after all Finally somebody realizes the obvious; now if they can get BT to give up on patenting hyperlinks we can all go back to enjoying the Internet.
posted by briank (7 comments total)

The problem lies with the patent office, not Amazon. Most 'obvious' patents are defensive, not offensive (so that your competitors can't patent it themselves and sue you with it).
posted by heighting at 6:04 AM on February 15, 2001

so when does Steve get his refund check?
posted by Vetinari at 6:19 AM on February 15, 2001

The problem lies with the patent office, not Amazon. i'd agree if not for the fact that amazon sued barnes and noble.
posted by bliss322 at 6:37 AM on February 15, 2001

*phew*
posted by Hackworth at 10:17 AM on February 15, 2001

''The appellate court made clear that today's decision `in no way resolved the ultimate question of validity,' and Amazon.com remains confident that its 1-Click patent is valid,'' Amazon.com said in a prepared statement.

grr. If they'd rolled over and said "Ah well, we tried, now lets get going with the fact that we do the rest of the stuff we do so well." I'd be very happy, and be building myself one of those fancy wishlist things right now. As it is, I can only hope that they'll eventually drop it.
posted by cCranium at 12:57 PM on February 15, 2001

also, i'd agree if not for the fact that amazon sued barnes and noble.

Amazon wouldn't have been able to if the patent office understood the technologies they're awarding exclusive rights to.

Retrieving data from a database isn't exactly a tricky concept.

Amazon's a bastard of a corporation for doing so, definitely, but the patent office is an ignorant entity for letting them.
posted by cCranium at 2:51 PM on February 15, 2001

Last I heard, BT didn't have much of a case.
posted by Danelope at 4:23 PM on February 15, 2001