If you run a FORUM, read this.
 

Amazon just scored a new patent based on discussion forums when it deals with a product or "item".

So if you have a product line of herbal supplements and if you say "Discuss this item in our Forum", you theoretically would be breaking the patent law....

Check it out....chalk this one up to another in a long line of stupid patents.......

"Method and system for conducting a discussion relating to an item
-------------------------------
Abstract
A method and system for conducting an electronic discussion relating to a topic. The discussion system of the present invention receives a selection of an item that is to be the topic of the discussion. The discussion system then receives comments relating to the selected item and generates a message that includes a description of the selected item and the received comments. The discussion system then sends the generated message to participants of the discussion. The discussion system receives from a participant who received the generated message additional comments that are to be added to the generated message. The discussion system sends the generated message along with received additional comments to the participants of the discussion. "

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...S=PN/6,525,747

what the fuck is with all of these patents?

streaming, forums, shopping online...

:BangBang:

Well...all the technological innovation of the last few years is catching up with us. People with money (ie. Big Business) are now able to snap up patents to software, technology and whatnot because none of us had the foresight or cash to PATENT the shit ourselves.

Who is going to be the first one here to PATENT an affiliate program?

I own the patent for using the word fuck on the net. If you use the word I need half a cent for everytime used(I am not greedy, I figure I will get volume). I will be starting the fuck finder program if you report places using fuck, you will get a commission. You have been put on notice lol.

Some of these are beyond stupid and society would not be as advanced as it is now if they would have allowed people to patent obvious ideas offline as they do online.

Imagine a patent on the wheel, the car, auctions, writing, a book, fire, food, a house, water pipes, the letter Z.

I'm all for reasonable IP protection, but some of the online patents they've been handing out are fucking stupid.

You owe me a half penny lol