Scratch

evo12 · 2012-08-03 17:27:24

Both of my cats LOVE that.

Lightnin · 2012-08-03 17:30:11

luiysia wrote:
It gets worse. This weirdo (or genius, depending on why he patented it) got the stick patented. Like, the idea of making a stick for dogs to get.

OMG that's even awesomer than the laser patent! XD
+10,000

I need to mail that person a check.

soupoftomato · 2012-08-03 17:32:05

luiysia wrote:
It gets worse. This weirdo (or genius, depending on why he patented it) got the stick patented. Like, the idea of making a stick for dogs to get.

Yeah, but who's BUYING a stick, or using laser pointers for commercial use?

Nobody designs commercially available fetch items like that. They tend to look like bones.

technoboy10 · 2012-08-03 17:52:20

luiysia wrote:
It gets worse. This weirdo (or genius, depending on why he patented it) got the stick patented. Like, the idea of making a stick for dogs to get.

I need to go stick a licensing fee on all of my trees. tongue

soupoftomato · 2012-08-03 17:57:12

Lightnin wrote:
luiysia wrote:
It gets worse. This weirdo (or genius, depending on why he patented it) got the stick patented. Like, the idea of making a stick for dogs to get.
OMG that's even awesomer than the laser patent! XD
+10,000

I need to mail that person a check.

And today, Lightnin posted his least formal post ever.

Historical.

CylonToast · 2012-08-03 18:01:37

Lightnin wrote:
CylonToast wrote:
Aw it looks exactly like my cat ^^
I do this all the time with him, I put the laser high up on the wall and he can jump to catch it. xD
Then you owe those people some $$$!!!

Yeah, one reason I like BoingBoing is that they're good at posting info about this sort of silliness. And it's an issue that does come up on the Scratch website from time to time. Who owns an idea?

[Puts on olde geezer hat]
I think it's an issue that you Scratchers are going to have to deal with more and more in the future, maybe as you grow older. On the one hand, people who make stuff ought to get credit, and ought to be able to make some money on it for a while (but a while isn't 80+ years, I think it's more like 5 or 10). On the other hand, coming up with something that's pretty obvious, and that 99 gagillion other people are likely to come up with given a laser pointer, a cat, and a little free time -- well that isn't the kind of thing any person or corporation should be able to sue you for. When it is, it's basically strangling innovation and the freedom to innovate.
[/removes old geezer hat.. well as much as is possible anyways.]

So does this mean I'm infringing copyright when I play with my cat? yikes Poor Toby will never get to play with a laser again. ;_;

Last edited by CylonToast (2012-08-03 18:03:15)

jukyter · 2012-08-03 18:05:50

Lightnin wrote:
luiysia wrote:
It gets worse. This weirdo (or genius, depending on why he patented it) got the stick patented. Like, the idea of making a stick for dogs to get.
OMG that's even awesomer than the laser patent! XD
+10,000

I need to mail that person a check.

Officially the best post Lightnin has ever made.

maxskywalker · 2012-08-03 22:28:50

Mokat wrote:
My cat goes CRAZY when I do that. If I point the dot on the wall, she will back up and come charging at the wall and leap up to try and catch it.

And is just me, or does Lightnin seem to have a thing for patents?

CheeseMunchy · 2012-08-03 22:41:51

Wow, I hope they don't sue me. XD

Last edited by CheeseMunchy (2012-08-03 22:42:13)

Harakou · 2012-08-03 22:57:36

soupoftomato wrote:
I don't think patents are ENTIRELY evil.
We have to look at places where it serves to do GOOD as well.

While the idea of "action" (such as shining a laser in front of a cat) and software patents are silly (Anything patented in that category may be necessary for certain games or ideas to function), I think physical patents are a good idea. It will force you to come up with a different product than the patented one, therefore it would progress inventing into something better than the item already patented.

I agree. The main problem with the current system is that you can patent vague concepts and ideas that often end up being thought of by someone else. Instead of patents on specific implementations, you see these very broad ideas that are open to interpretation. It's comparable to, instead of patenting a specific mechanism by which you can open a drawer, just patenting the idea of sliding a drawer out horizontally.

soupoftomato · 2012-08-03 23:25:47

Harakou wrote:
soupoftomato wrote:
I don't think patents are ENTIRELY evil.
We have to look at places where it serves to do GOOD as well.

While the idea of "action" (such as shining a laser in front of a cat) and software patents are silly (Anything patented in that category may be necessary for certain games or ideas to function), I think physical patents are a good idea. It will force you to come up with a different product than the patented one, therefore it would progress inventing into something better than the item already patented.
I agree. The main problem with the current system is that you can patent vague concepts and ideas that often end up being thought of by someone else. Instead of patents on specific implementations, you see these very broad ideas that are open to interpretation. It's comparable to, instead of patenting a specific mechanism by which you can open a drawer, just patenting the idea of sliding a drawer out horizontally.

Exactly.

But now that I think about it, what about the company Zynga? They are a gigantic company yet have copied everything from indie game Tiny Tower to EA game The Sims Social.

Patents could be useful in this case, but none exist for either of those.

CN12 · 2012-08-04 13:31:44

Lightnin wrote:
From BoingBoing.net:

"When you pull out a laser pointer and get your cat to chase the dot of light around your house*, you are using a patented method of cat exercise. The rights are owned by Kevin Amiss and Martin Abbott (both of Virginia), who patented it in the early 1990s. In the abstract, they describe this method of cat exercise as:

A method for inducing cats to exercise consists of directing a beam of invisible light produced by a hand-held laser apparatus onto the floor or wall or other opaque surface in the vicinity of the cat, then moving the laser so as to cause the bright pattern of light to move in an irregular way fascinating to cats, and to any other animal with a chase instinct.

In other words, they own the rights on doing this with ferrets, as well.

This might also be a good time to note an NPR story from this week, which documents IBM and Halliburton attempting to patent the process of patent trolling.

Method of exercising a cat: United States Patent 5443036

*Fact: This game becomes more fun if you have a rug. Just run the light up to the edge of the rug and then turn it off. The cat will become convinced that the little red light has gone under said rug and you will get to amuse yourself watching your cat try to lift the corner of something heavy without the use of opposable thumbs.

Thanks, Sam Ley!"

Let's hope they don't start charging a licensing fee, for using their idea!

Now that is something pointless to patent. I mean come on, seriously.

stevetheipad · 2012-08-04 13:40:40

soupoftomato wrote:
Harakou wrote:
soupoftomato wrote:
I don't think patents are ENTIRELY evil.
We have to look at places where it serves to do GOOD as well.

While the idea of "action" (such as shining a laser in front of a cat) and software patents are silly (Anything patented in that category may be necessary for certain games or ideas to function), I think physical patents are a good idea. It will force you to come up with a different product than the patented one, therefore it would progress inventing into something better than the item already patented.
I agree. The main problem with the current system is that you can patent vague concepts and ideas that often end up being thought of by someone else. Instead of patents on specific implementations, you see these very broad ideas that are open to interpretation. It's comparable to, instead of patenting a specific mechanism by which you can open a drawer, just patenting the idea of sliding a drawer out horizontally.
Exactly.

But now that I think about it, what about the company Zynga? They are a gigantic company yet have copied everything from indie game Tiny Tower to EA game The Sims Social.

Patents could be useful in this case, but none exist for either of those.

EA is finally suing the [not very cool] company Zynga.

Wickimen · 2012-08-04 13:58:54

soupoftomato wrote:
... While the idea of "action" ... patents are silly ...

I PATENT ZIGGLEWORP DAY AND THE EATING OF PICKLES UPON IT
That'll be $20

Harakou · 2012-08-04 14:57:20

stevetheipad wrote:
soupoftomato wrote:
Harakou wrote:

I agree. The main problem with the current system is that you can patent vague concepts and ideas that often end up being thought of by someone else. Instead of patents on specific implementations, you see these very broad ideas that are open to interpretation. It's comparable to, instead of patenting a specific mechanism by which you can open a drawer, just patenting the idea of sliding a drawer out horizontally.
Exactly.

But now that I think about it, what about the company Zynga? They are a gigantic company yet have copied everything from indie game Tiny Tower to EA game The Sims Social.

Patents could be useful in this case, but none exist for either of those.
EA is finally suing the [not very cool] company Zynga.

EA vs Zynga... I don't know which company I want to lose more.

Are there even patents on games? That seems even more ridiculous, if it's possible.

Mazdafreak · 2012-08-04 16:19:53

This forum post: Patented.

Just kidding big_smile

jvvg · 2012-08-04 16:31:33

More patent trolling? Seriously?

This really makes me mad.
I just came back from doing that.

GLaDOS2 · 2012-08-04 16:37:18

ToxicQuillz wrote:
...Really?

luiysia · 2012-08-04 17:24:21

Harakou wrote:
soupoftomato wrote:
I don't think patents are ENTIRELY evil.
We have to look at places where it serves to do GOOD as well.

While the idea of "action" (such as shining a laser in front of a cat) and software patents are silly (Anything patented in that category may be necessary for certain games or ideas to function), I think physical patents are a good idea. It will force you to come up with a different product than the patented one, therefore it would progress inventing into something better than the item already patented.
I agree. The main problem with the current system is that you can patent vague concepts and ideas that often end up being thought of by someone else. Instead of patents on specific implementations, you see these very broad ideas that are open to interpretation. It's comparable to, instead of patenting a specific mechanism by which you can open a drawer, just patenting the idea of sliding a drawer out horizontally.

I remember I read once that Namco has the patent for loading screen minigames. That's why you'll have to sit through all non-Namco loading screens until about November 2015.

Edit: Here it is. It basically says you can't have a game where you have loading screen minigames unless you're Namco.

Last edited by luiysia (2012-08-04 17:26:49)

soupoftomato · 2012-08-04 17:38:53

Harakou wrote:
stevetheipad wrote:
soupoftomato wrote:

Exactly.

But now that I think about it, what about the company Zynga? They are a gigantic company yet have copied everything from indie game Tiny Tower to EA game The Sims Social.

Patents could be useful in this case, but none exist for either of those.
EA is finally suing the [not very cool] company Zynga.
EA vs Zynga... I don't know which company I want to lose more.

Are there even patents on games? That seems even more ridiculous, if it's possible.

You want Zynga to lose.
EA is on our side this time. They've been talking about how they realized it was happening but now that it involves them they're the first ones that can seriously put money into fixing it.

stevetheipad · 2012-08-04 19:33:16

soupoftomato wrote:
Harakou wrote:
stevetheipad wrote:

EA is finally suing the [not very cool] company Zynga.
EA vs Zynga... I don't know which company I want to lose more.

Are there even patents on games? That seems even more ridiculous, if it's possible.
You want Zynga to lose.
EA is on our side this time. They've been talking about how they realized it was happening but now that it involves them they're the first ones that can seriously put money into fixing it.

Yeah, I agree.

Wickimen · 2012-08-04 19:34:51

I do that with my dog and a flashlight
I wonder if that's still applicable

CN12 · 2012-08-04 19:57:48

CheeseMunchy wrote:
Wow, I hope they don't sue me. XD

Me either. XD

CheeseMunchy · 2012-08-04 22:13:49

soupoftomato wrote:
Lightnin wrote:
luiysia wrote:
It gets worse. This weirdo (or genius, depending on why he patented it) got the stick patented. Like, the idea of making a stick for dogs to get.
OMG that's even awesomer than the laser patent! XD
+10,000

I need to mail that person a check.
And today, Lightnin posted his least formal post ever.

Historical.

Lightnin really does have a thing for patents.

TorbyFork234 · 2012-08-04 23:29:02

How do you even get stuff patented?

Scratch

archived forums

#26 2012-08-03 17:27:24

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

#27 2012-08-03 17:30:11

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

luiysia wrote:

#28 2012-08-03 17:32:05

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

luiysia wrote:

#29 2012-08-03 17:52:20

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

luiysia wrote:

#30 2012-08-03 17:57:12

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Lightnin wrote:

luiysia wrote:

#31 2012-08-03 18:01:37

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Lightnin wrote:

CylonToast wrote:

#32 2012-08-03 18:05:50

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Lightnin wrote:

luiysia wrote:

#33 2012-08-03 22:28:50

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Mokat wrote:

#34 2012-08-03 22:41:51

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

#35 2012-08-03 22:57:36

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

soupoftomato wrote:

#36 2012-08-03 23:25:47

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Harakou wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

#37 2012-08-04 13:31:44

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Lightnin wrote:

#38 2012-08-04 13:40:40

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

soupoftomato wrote:

Harakou wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

#39 2012-08-04 13:58:54

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

soupoftomato wrote:

#40 2012-08-04 14:57:20

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

stevetheipad wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

Harakou wrote:

#41 2012-08-04 16:19:53

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

#42 2012-08-04 16:31:33

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

#43 2012-08-04 16:37:18

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

ToxicQuillz wrote:

#44 2012-08-04 17:24:21

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Harakou wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

#45 2012-08-04 17:38:53

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

Harakou wrote:

stevetheipad wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

#46 2012-08-04 19:33:16

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

soupoftomato wrote:

Harakou wrote:

stevetheipad wrote:

#47 2012-08-04 19:34:51

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

#48 2012-08-04 19:57:48

Re: Ever use a laser pointer to play with your cat? That's patented.

CheeseMunchy wrote:

#49 2012-08-04 22:13:49