How Dare SAP Create Computerized Catalogs Without Paying The Patent Troll

from the obviousness-test dept

SAP is the latest firm hit with a patent suit from EPlus, the company that went after Ariba earlier this year. The patents in question seem to be about as obvious as they come. It's a system for searching through some computerized catalogs, checking availability and presenting the results. It's hard to see how this isn't a natural progression of technology and quite obvious to... just about everyone. Does anyone really think that SAP needed to "steal" this idea? We keep being told this is innovation, but it certainly seems a lot like a few lawyers getting rich at the expense of real research and development.
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  • identicon
    DGK12, 8 Sep 2005 @ 11:49am

    Ah

    Well that's quite inventive. Next farmers will come under fire for producing crops for which agrochemical companies own patents for, such as corn.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Frank, 8 Sep 2005 @ 11:57am

    Obvious patents

    Check the bottom of a Domino's Pizza box next time you order. It's a box. It's patented.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2005 @ 4:55pm

      Re: Obvious patents

      On that note, the glued Taco Bell taco holding paper are patented I think twice. I'd love to see the complete details of that patent. How worthless.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Dude, 8 Sep 2005 @ 8:25pm

      Re: Obvious patents

      Not only that, after having worked at both Dominoes and a box manufacturer, I can honestly say that the dominoes box is identical to almost every other pizza box out there.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Mousky, 9 Sep 2005 @ 5:30am

        Re: Obvious patents

        I thought Domino's pizza boxes were octagonal in shape? If yes, then, they are different from the typical square/rectangular pizza box.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Mousky, 9 Sep 2005 @ 5:32am

      Re: Obvious patents

      Check this link for pizza box patents:

      http://www.correllconcepts.com/patents.htm

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mike, 9 Sep 2005 @ 1:20am

    No Subject Given

    A rabbit and a beaver are looking up at the Boulder Dam. The beaver is saying: "I didn't actually build it, but it's based on my idea."

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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