eBay gets official patents approval for online auctions
Ok, this is not so stamp (or philately) related as my usual posts, but I think it will interest a lot of collectors. eBay has today received (U.S) official patents approval for online auctions. I know, it sounds totally absurd, but it’s 100% true.
The patent is called Computer-implement method and system for conducting auctions on the Internet, and as far as I understood the paper, it defines pretty precisely the flow almost all online auction websites rely. And this is what eBay has been granted a patent.
The BIG QUESTION is of course what will eBay do with the patent? Will they start charging other online auctions, or just let them be (and live in fear)?
And equally big question is how the other auctions respond? They have no other choice than to adapt some way. If eBay decides to cash in, then there is very little to do besides paying up. Alternatively they could try to find new ways and technological solutions for online auctions workflow.
I fear this can cause some very serious problems for smaller online auction websites (like BidStart/StampWants or DelCampe) IF eBay decides to push or punish them based on this.
I can’t even understand how something as “common as this” can even be granted a patent. It’s like Christie’s or Sotheby’s was granted a patent for keeping traditional auctions.. I hope for the best, but fear for the worst… What do You think?
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Oh! my gosh
maybe we should all boycott E-Bay as I often bid on that site, but I think I like Delcampe better and now I have one more reason to like Delcampe even more.
Thanks for the Heads Up
A while ago a US company got a patent for basmati rice, a strain of rice which has been developed and refined by Indian farmers for thousands of years. The reason? Well they did some tinkering and came up with some new strains, but wish to call these “basmati”, with serious economic consequences. The Indian government fought the US on this, and won.
To me, trying to patent common human activities like a particular method of trade is absurd. But then again, greed does drive people to attempt the absurd.
@Jayne… I think that the key element here is what eBay will do. If they start pushing other smaller players with this, then I’m pretty sure to boycott them. Owning a patent doesn’t make them evil, but it certainly is a weapon they can use (for both good and bad)… For example Amazon owns a similar patent for one-click shopping; and they use it to control what their competition does.
@Tsungei…That is a very interesting story. Totally absurd.
After reading a bit more on the web (and the thread you started on stampboards), I wonder if this patent will change anything. The market doesn’t seem to think so.
My opinion is that they will use it in any way they can to squeeze the competition. They seem to like squeezing ebay sellers while telling them their fees are going down. LOL
@David… I would not expect a quick reaction from the markets. After all, if eBay start pushing others with this, it would lead to very long and complex court cases (with uncertain end result). In such a fight there’s no quick and easy money available for the markets… But like you say, it’s definitely gives eBay a change to squeeze the competition. After all, eBay does have the time and resources to “play games”. The smaller players may not…. Just my 2cents of worth. LOL.