Friday, 9 May 2014

Want to take a photo against a white background? Beware, Amazon now owns ...


  • The U.S Trademark and Patent Office awarded the patent in March

  • It details a system of taking photos against a white background

  • The files even explain how best to set up a photography studio

  • Amazon has been criticised for patenting a generic shot used regularly

  • But experts claim the specifics of the patent will be difficult to enforce

  • No one understands why the company applied for such a patent

  • One source suggests Amazon might be wanting to patent how products are photographed and can be rotated on the site


By

Victoria Woollaston



Published:


14:51, 9 May 2014




|
Updated:


16:33, 9 May 2014



Patents typically feature groundbreaking devices or innovative uses of existing technology, but Amazon’s latest filing is neither. 


The retailer has been awarded a patent for taking photos on a white background – a process that has been carried out since cameras were invented.  


Its filing even details the best way to set up a photography studio, where to place the ‘elevated platform’ – or table – and a step-by-step process.


Amazon has been awarded a patent that details a system of taking photos against a white background, stock image pictured. The files even explain how best to set up a photography studio. Amazon has been criticised for patenting a generic shot used regularly by photographers


Amazon has been awarded a patent that details a system of taking photos against a white background, stock image pictured. The files even explain how best to set up a photography studio. Amazon has been criticised for patenting a generic shot used regularly by photographers




AMAZON’S DELIVERY PATENT


Amazon is developing a system to send items to buyers before they have even decided they want it.


The technique could mean deliveries arrive within minutes – or could even be waiting for buyers when they decide to buy.


A patent filed by Amazon in January revealed the plans for its ‘anticipatory package shipping’.


According to this patent, the packages could wait at the shippers’ hubs, on trucks or even in an apartment building until an order arrives.


Packages would be shipped without an exact address, which could be added once an order is made.


This would allow Amazon to ship copies of items such a popular book on the day it is published, for instance.


The reasoning behind Amazon’s application remains a mystery.


One source, however, suggested Amazon might be wanting to patent how products are photographed and rotated on the site’s vast catalogue.


Although it sounds like a joke, the patent is available on the U.S Patent and Trademark Office website and was awarded in March.


Of course, the filing is more specific and although it describes a standard ‘studio arrangement with a background comprising a white cyclorama and a front light source’, it does go into more detail. 


For example, it states the ‘image capture position’ needs to be located between ‘the background and the front light source in the longitudinal axis’, and the shot should be taken with an 85mm lens. 


It goes on to say there should be ‘at least one image capture device further configured with an ISO setting of 320 and an f-stop value of 5.6.’


Images of the arrangement show the ‘elevated platform’, depicted as a table, positioned between the ‘image capture position and the background in the longitudinal axis’.


The filing describes a standard


The patent even describes the work flow process, pictured


The filing describes a standard studio arrangement with a white background and front light source. It also states the ‘image capture position’ needs to be located between ‘the background and the front light source in the longitudinal axis’, pictured left. The patent even describes the work flow process, pictured right



Amazon additionally claims the shot should be taken with an 85mm lens and goes on to say there should be


Amazon additionally claims the shot should be taken with an 85mm lens and goes on to say there should be ‘at least one image capture device further configured with an ISO setting of about 320 and an f-stop value of about 5.6′. This patent image shows the layout described in the files



It goes on to describe a ‘front light source being directed toward a subject on the elevated platform’ with ‘a first rear light source aimed at the background and positioned between the elevated platform and the background.’


In short, Amazon has described a camera pointing at a person sat on a table being lit from the front and rear, with additional lights above and below. 


Amazon claimed this arrangement will result in photos that don’t require a lot of editing in post-production.


But as Gizmodo’s Ashley Feinberg explained: ‘Amazon almost undoubtedly did not pioneer this technique’ but ‘the extensive and specific conditions listed mean there is pretty much no way to either violate it or know if the patent has even been violated in the first place.









Comments (63)


Share what you think



The comments below have not been moderated.





Jim Smith,


Leics,


35 minutes ago


Typical of yanks trying to make a fast buck. Photographic techniques are generic like recipes, though I suppose it is just a matter of time before someone tried to patent teh recipe for cheesecake





Robert the Engineer,


Birmingham,


3 hours ago


If I had the time to look through some of the many “how to ” guides to photography which were published throughout the 20th century, I am sure that 99% of this patent counts as published “prior art”. The remaining 1% would be the total combination of specific details, so if one lamp is at a different angle by only 1 degree, it should fall outside the patent.





Caleb,


Augusta Ga,


3 hours ago


I wonder when someone will patent the rectangular computer chip.





Bric_a_brac,


Coalville_Leicestershire_UK, United Kingdom,


3 hours ago


The patent is virtually useless under EU law as it cites 3,200Kelvin temperature light – a range found in the “being phased out” incandescent lamp range. Amazon – poor on tax, poor on patents. No surprises there.






MFrankln,


Alabama, United States,


3 hours ago


Wait a minute… since when is white a color? Isn’t it the result of removing ALL colors from the spectrum?






deanett72,


Las Vegas, United States,


4 hours ago


Does the DMV and passport people know about this?






JUSTMYOPINION,


Canyon Lake Texas, United States,


5 hours ago


Gees. Next thing you know some one is going to try and patent the clear air we breath.





MercifulZeus,


Portsmouth,


4 hours ago


The genome for cocoa beans was cracked a few years back, and there was real concern that Mars or the like would try to patent it, thus preventing anyone anywhere from growing cocoa beans without a licence. Only in the US would this have even been considered! Thankfully the genome was released into the public domain.





MercifulZeus,


Portsmouth,


4 hours ago


The genome for cocoa beans was cracked a few years back, and there was real concern that Mars or the like would try to patent it, thus preventing anyone anywhere from growing cocoa beans without a licence. Only in the US would this have even been considered! Thankfully the genome was released into the public domain.






Kaede-chan,


San Jose, United States,


5 hours ago


Patent trolling needs to be illegal.





A s h t o n i a n,


Burbank,


5 hours ago


You are so right.





dave,


kent,


5 hours ago


Ha! all you have to do is photograph against an ‘off-white’ background – and if you go into Homebase/BQ and look at all the different off-white shades you’ll know how many are hardly distinguishable from ‘white’





Johnf1960,


Stockport, United Kingdom,


6 hours ago


Nooooooooobs and tossssssers



The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.



Who is this week’s top commenter?

Find out now


Article source: http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/31010/sony-releases-high-end-small-camera-rx100-ii-and-rx1r


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)