Back in 2000, David Roth had one of those "eureka" moments that are the stuff of American entreprenurial legend. After spotting a box of Cocoa Puffs hidden behind the desk of a Wall Street executive, Roth dreamed up a retail business that would sell cereal all [RETURN TO ARTICLE]
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Reader Comments
If business method patents were a problem, wouldn’t there be a good example of innovation being stifled?
“Back at Bowls, Monteleone’s lawyer told him to ignore Cereality’s letter, which was probably good advice.”
So Monteleone suffered the cost of having his lawyer check into whether a threatened lawsuit was legitimate—a cost of doing business that any restauranteur will have to expend many more times regarding claims that someone tripped or suffered food poisoning. No patent was awarded in this case, no legal hurdles were erected, and no innovation was stifled.
Not only does Monteleone continue, but other cereal restaurants are opening elsewhere—are we sure the patent application (obviously frivolous—anyone can apply for a patent) hasn’t actually encouraged this innovation?
Why don’t you consider one-click shopping a good example?
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I was just looking at a How To Build A Shed web site and they have a similar news issue on building a shed patenting. I think it may be possible but there still will be violators and culprits in my opinion.
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