Amazon Patents White Background Photography

[Paul Jones]

There's talk on the photography forums today about a new Patent granted to Amazon for a method of capturing images and/or video against a plain white background.

https://shootthecenterfold.com/amazon-t ... echniques/

The Patent
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=08676045&idkey=NONE

David Bailey and Richard Avedon made their names with images shot against a white background. Apparently Amazon now have a unique new way of doing so, and own the patent rights to it...?

Any thoughts?

[PhilipHowe]

Got to be an april fools, filed on 18th March....

[Paul Jones]

More info now on the Amateur Photographer website...

A patent attorney gives Amateur Photographer (AP) magazine his assessment of the potential impact of Amazon’s controversial studio lighting patent.

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/ph ... ges-impact

[melbarnes]

I can foresee that Amazon would lose a lot of custom if they tried to sue on this one. Like Phil says, it's got to be a joke.

[Paul Jones]

No joke. But one wonders why the heck Amazon would feel the need to patent this.

[melbarnes]

Let's patent the cardboard box and really screw them!

[PhilipHowe]

I read on another website that someone tried to register something similar, so Amazon registered this so they couldn't be sued for using 'their' technique, but have no intention of enforcing the patent, just protecting themselves.

Still don't understand it though.

[Paul Jones]

Let's patent the cardboard box and really screw them!

Or patent a new, improved cardboard box...

Students invent a better cardboard box
http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/stude ... ainer.html

[Paul Jones]

I read on another website that ... Amazon have no intention of enforcing the patent, just protecting themselves.

Yes, I think it would be very difficult to prove that a white background photo was taken using their precise lighting setup.

[Mike]

It could be a response to the Apple marketing method of choice.