Question

type your answer

he discussion forum this week involves Business Method Patents. First, in your view, what should the standard be for a business method patent? Second, please include a discussion of whether you think that Amazon should be able to patent the One-Click method of ordering goods AND whether you think Facebook should be able to patent a process that “dynamically provides a news feed about a user of a social network.” (Note: This question is adapted from p. 684 of the textbook.)

Answer 1

The grant of a property right to the inventor is called a patent for an innovation. Patents are granted for new, useful, and unique inventions for a period of 20 years from the date of filing an application for a patent. The right to exclude others from exploiting the invention is given during that period. A business method can be patented if the required standards of patentability are met. An original and useful business method should be patented so as to have full protection to use the invention to the benefit of an individual or organization that invented it. In addition, the standard for business method patents should consider awareness of the existing business methods in the current markets before granting patent rights.

Explanation:

In my opinion, Amazon can successfully patent the "One-Click Method" since it is innovative and useful to the organization and its consumers. This business invention facilitates payment processing for the customer, hence providing comfort and ease of use by avoiding the long process of filling up the payment method and shipping address details each time a customer places an order. The "One-Click Method" automatically links the payment and shipping details, thus extremely useful since it simplifies the entire process.

Facebook may also patent its invention. The provision of news feed about a user of a social network leverages its position in a given segment and offers a leeway to other social networks.

These innovations are clearly noble and unique because they offer differential advantages to both companies. Facebook and Amazon are well established and successful companies and could use such inventions to stand apart which enhances their brand equity and positions them among the target group because the services mentioned above add value to these companies.