Comments on: Amazon and Two Sides of the Intellectual Property Coin

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:22:43 +0000

I can’t see Amazon fighting it out. It’s got it’s own patent process to protect (the 1 click wonder). I foresee settlement in the future. To fight Discovery and weaken the patent law on processes would injure Amazon’s own economic interest.

By: XandraG

XandraG — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:20:03 +0000

Claim Jumping. I like it. I’ve heard it called “patent squatting” – and Microsoft tries it periodically on some Linux distros that get too much attention. Unfortunately, Red Hat buckled in the sense that it kicks back something to MS now, but it didn’t stop releasing the distro.

Still…this is how innovation gets crushed by greed. It’s a sad, sad thing. Can’t stand Amazon’s “only buy it here, only read it with DRM, and only look at it on this computer or in this format,” but Discovery (really, guys. why? Stick to Dirty Jobs and crab fishing drama, k?) just being randomly greedy makes me want to kick something.

In a perfect world, maybe this will punch a sucking chest wound into DRM.

By: Teddypig

Teddypig — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:44:12 +0000

I know I take a chance whenever I link to things like convert lit etc.

Yes they can make you take it down.

THEN THERE IS ALWAYS BIT TORRENT! Hmmmm tasty!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:10:34 +0000

I did not see where my line of tolerance on the DRM issue was, but now that Amazon has crossed it, I do.

By: DS

DS — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:45:11 +0000

Agree with Teddypig. I hope Amazon has the balls to take this on since it is going to dip into their pockets.

By: Teddypig

Teddypig — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:33:07 +0000

Notice that Discovery has never done anything with that patent nor are they even really involved in eBook creation. They just stockpiled it away in case someone came up with something that actually worked. Just another case of modern day claim jumping.

Which is why US Patent Laws need to be junked.