Amazon files patent showing studio lighting technique ?

[pedro]

Well, this is as crazy as it gets...
Quotation:
"Is Amazon attempting to patent an age old photography lighting technique? A recently published patent seems to suggest that, and it’s getting some photographers up in arms. Multiple readers have sent us (rather angry and bewildered) tips about the patent, which was first reported on by Shoot the Centerfold. The document itself was published on March 18, 2014, is titled “Studio Arrangement,” and features the diagram above showing a lighting setup."

http://petapixel.com/2014/05/05/amazon-files-patent-showing-seamless-background-studio-lighting-technique/

[neuroanatomist]

First, seems like there should be 'prior art' on this.

Second, based on the output (an image), how the heck is Amazon going to be able to claim infringement on the specifics?

Third, WTF?

[J.R.]

At first glance it appeared that someone was having an extended April 1, but no, it's true 

Patenting a technique that people have already been using for ages seems a crazy idea altogether.  What is the intention of Amazon is something I am unable to fathom.

It sure isn't possible looking at a photograph to determine precisely what lighting equipment was used. Burden of proof lies with Amazon if they are going to contest the photographs, so what are they going to argue? Is Amazon going to raid every studio in the world to see who all are violating the patents?

[mackguyver]

People (including a jacka$$ named Bikram Choudhury) have tried to patent/copyright much, much older techniques - check out this Wikipedia article:
Yoga Piracy

[tron]

So let the descendants of Gutenberg establish patent copyrights for hard copy books and then sue the Amazon  for selling books!!!!  

[nostrovia]

First, seems like there should be 'prior art' on this.

Second, based on the output (an image), how the heck is Amazon going to be able to claim infringement on the specifics?

Third, WTF?

This is most likely a purely defensive patent - one that they have absolutely no intention of ever attempting to enforce against an infringer.  But with likely tens of thousands of product images on Amazon's site taken with this very specific lighting setup, they have a solid defense against anyone claiming to infringe on a separate patent.

[jdramirez]

I like Amazon, but this is silly.  I want to patent bike riding technique... no one can use a seat unless they buy a license.

[Orangutan]

Might just as well file a patent on a Python-esque "silly walk."   

Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks (Full Sketch)

[tolusina]

It all seems quite absurd.
1st, that Amazon would conceive of and file such a patent.
2nd, that the U.S.P.O. would approve. But they have, and granted it.

.......Third, WTF?

---
No worries though, the patent spells out in excruciating detail a very very specific lighting set up, specifies distances, light specs, materials, f-stop, ISO used.
Claim 25 regarding method gets rather generic, but 25 gets nailed down to specifics by 26 and 27.
Full text of the patent.
It's pretty unlikely anyone would ever duplicate this exact set up.

I'm guessing it's a staged lighting configuration specifically intended to create a specific look to be used as a signature style.

[EdB]

This is ridiculous. Sad thing is, so is the US patent office, they will probably grant it. *sigh*

[wsmith96]

People (including a jacka$$ named Bikram Choudhury) have tried to patent/copyright much, much older techniques - check out this Wikipedia article:
Yoga Piracy

The company I work for filed for a patent on one of the computer virus delivery mechanisms (don't remember which one) so that if they caught the creators of said virus they could also hit them with patent infringement.

[tolusina]

This is ridiculous. Sad thing is, so is the US patent office, they will probably grant it. *sigh*

No probably about it, they already have.
Brief description
Full text

"Filed on Nov. 9, 2011, as Appl. No. 13/292,359."
 
"United States Patent
8,676,045
Sawatzky ,   et al.
March 18, 2014 "
 
Go read the claims in the full text, there's nothing to worry over, the patent is so very specific it's unlikely anyone would duplicate the set up unless they intentionally wanted to.
 
 
 
 
 
.

[agierke]

the truly inane thing about this is how does one enforce this?

if i create a set up that uses the same configuration of lights but i change the positions by a foot or two and the angle by a foot or two i will effectively get the same lighting result but technically not infringe upon the patent. and even if its argued that i did infringe...how in the heck would you ever prove that i did?

[tolusina]

the truly inane thing about this is how does one enforce this?

if i create a set up that uses the same configuration of lights but i change the positions by a foot or two and the angle by a foot or two i will effectively get the same lighting result but technically not infringe upon the patent. and even if its argued that i did infringe...how in the heck would you ever prove that i did?

YES, you get IT. To be safe, use an f-stop other than approximately 5.6, an ISO setting other than 320.
This patent is so specific, it's meaningless to anyone, everyone but Amazon.
It's their specific product photo set up and that's all and only what it is.
---
Although, there's nothing stopping anyone from improving on that specific set up, applying for another ridiculous patent.
 
 
 
.

[Zv]

What's to prevent other companies from patenting their lighting secrets? Pretty soon we'll have no way to legally light a subject!

I mean, does the DMV have a patent for ugly and harsh lighting? If not I'm taking that one. Think of all those on camera pop up flash shots that are taken every day! I could make a fortune! 

What about the sun?