this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2024
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Did anyone know that Domino's Pizza patented their order tracking system? (patents.google.com)
submitted 7 months ago by danhab99@programming.dev to c/programming@programming.dev
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I know about software patents but what's the point when somebody can achieve the exact same functionality from the user's perspective using totally different code. Just seems like a waste on a patent lawyer.

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[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 21 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It’s all marketing. You likely only know that Dominos had the system patented because it slaps a big patent number right on the tracker. The fact that you're discussing it is essentially free advertising and increases brand awareness. So, this post suggests that the investment in patent lawyers was likely worthwhile for the company.

Largely, consumers seem to derive the below listed perceptions when they recognize that a product is protected by a patent:

  1. When a message about a product being protected by a patent is conveyed, the company as a whole is perceived to be innovative
  1. The patented product is perceived to be superior
  1. The patented product is perceived to be unique, as no one else can copy the patented product

from https://www.invntree.com/blogs/using-patents-marketing-tool-good-bad-and-ugly

(this is not a defense of any of these practices; simply indicating what is going on here)

[–] danhab99@programming.dev 13 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Fuck I fell for it.. gg dominos

[–] spujb@lemmy.cafe 4 points 7 months ago

Marketing is just mass manipulation and propaganda with a palatable name. :(