BMW Trying To Patent Technological Problem Solving

from the no-thinking-for-you dept

Tue, Nov 10th 2009 2:35am — Mike Masnick

Erik was the first of a bunch of you to send in the story about how BMW is supposedly applying for a patent on a method using technology to solve problems. You can read the patent application for a Method for Systematically Identifying Technology-Based Solutions if you'd like. It's not quite as broad as the claim on Autoblog that it's a patent application on "technological creative thinking," but it is ridiculously broad. Read through the actual claims, and it's difficult to see how this deserves a patent at all. There shouldn't be a monopoly on a method for how you solve problems.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: patents, problem solving, thinking
Companies: bmw

29 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Chill, 10 Nov 2009 @ 4:19am

There shouldn't be patents on genes, but yet parts of our bodies are the intellectual property of others... because they are entitled to claim genes..

So it's not really a stretch of the imagination for a company to try this. I read some of the patent, basically it is trying to get a monopoly on creative thinking, identifying a plurality of problems and finding solutions, or however they put it.

"In many countries, certain subject areas are excluded from patents, such as business methods and mental acts. The exclusive right granted to a patentee in most countries is the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or distributing the patented invention without permission"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent (in before "wikipedia isn't a source!")

I know that we aren't talking about genes here, but I found out they were patented on this site, and it's given me a horrid look at the patent system.

One can only pray this isn't accepted. It would be a victory for common sense.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
senshikaze (profile), 10 Nov 2009 @ 4:30am

Yea, okay.
Starting now, I will ignore any patent made by anyone. The system is broken and I see no reason to adhere to a broken system.
I am very close to not adhering to copyright for much the same reason.

On another note entirely: wouldn't all of human history be prior art?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zafi, 10 Nov 2009 @ 4:50am

BMW
I think this is absolute ridiculus allowing companies/organisations to patent ideas/methodologies/process especially as broad as this one. Allowing such patents discourages creative thinking/development on broad level.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Boba, 10 Nov 2009 @ 5:06am

Ha...this response is patented. If you read it, my laywers will be in contact.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
How would this work?, 10 Nov 2009 @ 5:08am

Patents - the new fools gold
Infringement by everyone would be a given, but how would it be proven? You could simply say that you solved the problem by guessing or maybe pulled it out of your ass rather than engaging in a logical progression of thought - which btw should not be patentable for obvious reasons.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
NullOp, 10 Nov 2009 @ 5:14am

Patent
Broad and vague. That's how we like our patents!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
cc, 10 Nov 2009 @ 5:17am

Re:
We are very sorry, but common sense has already been patented by Sony.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Nov 2009 @ 5:24am

Re:
First, you ignoring patents harms any patent holder, how much? How about, none?

Second, why are you ignoring any patent? The issue described is an application, not a patent. That application has a snow-ball's chance in hell of ever issuing as a patent.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Nov 2009 @ 6:01am

Problem Solving...
I have heard of this process already. It is called Triz.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 10 Nov 2009 @ 6:14am

Re: Re:
You obviously haven't seen the patents that get through the USPO.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Overcast (profile), 10 Nov 2009 @ 6:27am

Someone go copyright the concept of a copyright and get this over with.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Alimas (profile), 10 Nov 2009 @ 6:39am

Re:
Ooooo, maybe someone could patent the method for maintaining a system of patents.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dark Helmet (profile), 10 Nov 2009 @ 6:44am

Re: Re:
Ah, hell, just trademark the terms "Patent" and "Copyright" and it'll be over.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PatentWright, 10 Nov 2009 @ 6:44am

Thanks, Now I'll use it
I'd like to patent systematically breaking down patents with a computer algorithm and then reselling them to people who don't like to develop technology.

Ah-ha!
ha ha hahahahahaha.
Okay so these guys think that a computer program with drop downs solutions that compiles and aggregates data is cutting edge? It's like they just created the search engine in 2009. Am I the only one that isn't impressed with anything but how stupid it is to share how you do things with all of your competition?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Nov 2009 @ 8:43am

Pretty soon using a spreadsheet to help solve problems that spreadsheets are designed to solve will be patented.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Nov 2009 @ 8:44am

Re:
or using a calculator to solve a math problem.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Nov 2009 @ 8:46am

Re: Patents - the new fools gold
"You could simply say that you solved the problem by guessing"

It's still infringement.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mike42 (profile), 10 Nov 2009 @ 8:53am

Re: Re:
Yet another unimplemented patent!

Sorry, just had to...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 10 Nov 2009 @ 9:11am

I swear that stories like this make me want to patent a system by which anaerobic gasses are exchanged from a fluid medium for aerobic gasses and then sue the pants off anyone who dares to breathe!

Seriously, where's the bar? I guess all it takes is enough confusing technical jargon.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
batch, 10 Nov 2009 @ 12:53pm

A wise man once said:
Whats the difference between a BMW and a Porcupine? With a porcupine, the prick is on the outside.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DB, 11 Nov 2009 @ 6:03am

Not Patented
Does anyone remember the scene in It's A Wonderful Life where young George Bailey struck a cigarette lighter in Mr. Gower's drug store and said "I wish I had a million dollars"?
He didn't get the millions dollars just because he wished it.
And the BMW patent application's ridiculous claim 1 has not been allowed just because they wished it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Nov 2009 @ 5:35am

Re:
You did catch the point that this is an application, right?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Nov 2009 @ 5:37am

Re: Re: Re:
Yet another patent application confused with a patent.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Nov 2009 @ 5:38am

Re: Re: Patents - the new fools gold
Actually, based on the way the claim reads, it would not be infringement. Of course, that also assumes that the patent application ever issues, which is extremely unlikely. You have to follow each and every step of a claim to be infringing, and guessing a solution is not one of the steps.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Nov 2009 @ 5:40am

Re: Re: Re:
Good luck with that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 12 Nov 2009 @ 5:41am

Re: Re: Re:
Yes, I have. This one will not go. Just watch.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bmw san diego, 3 Jan 2010 @ 12:29pm

bmw patent
well patents have to be broad so that they benefit the writer.

San Diego BMW Service Repair
8680 Miralani Dr, Suite 124, San Diego, CA
(858) 635-9063‎
[ link to this | view in thread ]
marlon, 19 Jan 2014 @ 11:44pm

the new fools gold
Whats the difference between a BMW and a Porcupine? With a porcupine, the prick is on the outside.

marlon
http://www.parts4exportcatalog.com
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Simon Adair, 24 Apr 2014 @ 8:05am

Nice
It is good to see them working out the kinks in their system. It is sad when companies refuse to look beyond sales figures to get their systems running more efficiently. I think that everyone could take a page from their book.
[ link to this | view in thread ]