Comments on: Netflix claims a patent on renting movies on-line http://overlawyered.com/2006/04/netflix-claims-a-patent-on-renting-movies-on-line/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=netflix-claims-a-patent-on-renting-movies-on-line Chronicling the high cost of our legal system Sun, 27 May 2012 02:04:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ted http://overlawyered.com/2006/04/netflix-claims-a-patent-on-renting-movies-on-line/comment-page-1/#comment-2602 Ted Wed, 05 Apr 2006 11:35:27 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/wpblog/?p=3297#comment-2602 No coupon, but a success in the lawsuit will result in a monopoly for Netflix -- and thus price increases. Since there's unlikely to be resolution before 2010, the more likely scenario is that Netflix is trying to gain a competitive advantage through a war of attrition with a financially-strapped competitor. (Disclosure: I sold my BBI stock today.) No coupon, but a success in the lawsuit will result in a monopoly for Netflix — and thus price increases.

Since there’s unlikely to be resolution before 2010, the more likely scenario is that Netflix is trying to gain a competitive advantage through a war of attrition with a financially-strapped competitor.

(Disclosure: I sold my BBI stock today.)

]]> By: Peter http://overlawyered.com/2006/04/netflix-claims-a-patent-on-renting-movies-on-line/comment-page-1/#comment-2601 Peter Wed, 05 Apr 2006 11:22:11 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/wpblog/?p=3297#comment-2601 I am trying to retrieve from the dark recesses of my memory what the required qualities of a patent are. From my graduate-school "science and the law" class, I seem to remember the requirements of novelty and significance. What, particularly, is patent-worthy about NetFlix's business plan? Internet access? Use of the US Postal System? It's a clever model they have, but doesn't strike this layman as patent-able. But as a NetFlix subscriber, I wonder if I can look forward to a coupon for a free movie rental if NetFlix should prevail. I am trying to retrieve from the dark recesses of my memory what the required qualities of a patent are. From my graduate-school “science and the law” class, I seem to remember the requirements of novelty and significance. What, particularly, is patent-worthy about NetFlix’s business plan? Internet access? Use of the US Postal System? It’s a clever model they have, but doesn’t strike this layman as patent-able.

But as a NetFlix subscriber, I wonder if I can look forward to a coupon for a free movie rental if NetFlix should prevail.

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