404 Pages
So I came across this article on Slashdot today. And it is just baffling. Amazon was awarded a patent for a custom 404 page (file not found) , not the generic one that IIS serves up, but a custom one that will try to make suggestions of pages that you were looking for based on the URL or search criterea.I really hope that this gets overturned or something. I don't know how the patent office works, but this is ridiculous. The custom 404 has been around for a while and I'm sure someone could find an example of one before Amazon claims that they came up with the idea.
Since every major website I'm willing to be has one that is if that's webmaster worth anything (and not including this blog since I don't have one. I'll just blame that on me being a developer now and that not having a custom 404 page is just a feature). So will Amazon go after people with a patent infringement? Can we expect either Amazon to sue the likes CNN, MSNBC, Microsoft, or Best Buy? Or should we see these companies with the "infringement" paying Amazon every time they serve up a 404 page? Not to mention all the small homegrown sites. And does this apply to internal sites as well? How will Amazon enforce this?
I dunno, but it will be interesting to see what happens. Maybe nothing. Only time will tell I suppose
posted by Tom Becker at
1/30/2008
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