M-Edge Sues Amazon

astrodad · 12-28-2011, 10:11 AM

From the WSJ:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...743279834.html

Quote:

M-Edge's 15-page complaint accuses Amazon of unfair competition, patent infringement, false advertising and illegally interfering with M-Edge's relations with customers. It seeks unspecified damages and injunctions barring Amazon from continuing the alleged practices. A lawyer for the company, Paul Vickrey, called Amazon's actions "punishment" for M-Edge's refusal to go along with the retailer's "increasingly outrageous demands."

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...#ixzz1hqIFjDfR

Looks like a nasty bit of PR for Amazon.

RainingLemur · 12-28-2011, 10:12 AM

Wow. That's...not good. I imagine this will be settled out of court.

JSWolf · 12-28-2011, 10:21 AM

Please, if you link to an WSJ article, please make sure we don't need a subscription to read it.

http://www.geek.com/articles/news/ki...tion-20111228/

I know that link isn't to the WSJ. But it is to another article on the same subject.

astrodad · 12-28-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Please, if you link to an WSJ article, please make sure we don't need a subscription to read it.

Oops... I didn't realize it was one of the ones that needed a subscription. Sorry.

SCION · 12-28-2011, 11:52 AM

So that's why I couldn't find any M-Edge lights on Amazon.

carpetmojo · 12-28-2011, 11:54 AM

You feel quite out of it if you aren't being sued by, or sueing, Amazon or Apple...........

I had a rectangular shortbread biscuit over Christmas, and felt mildly panicky for a second or two......

markbot · 12-28-2011, 01:28 PM

My opinion is that it's Amazon's store. They can sell whatever they want and charge M-Edge any fee. If M-Edge doesn't like that...then tough luck. This is just sour grapes. M-Edge lacks integrity for making this spat public. Other distributors should think twice before doing business with M-Edge.

Phogg · 12-28-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbot

My opinion is that it's Amazon's store. They can sell whatever they want and charge M-Edge any fee. If M-Edge doesn't like that...then tough luck. This is just sour grapes. M-Edge lacks integrity for making this spat public. Other distributors should think twice before doing business with M-Edge.

The Wallstreet Journal made the spat public - thats pretty much their business after all.
Unless sealed, court proceedings are a matter of public record.

taustin · 12-28-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbot

My opinion is that it's Amazon's store. They can sell whatever they want and charge M-Edge any fee. If M-Edge doesn't like that...then tough luck. This is just sour grapes. M-Edge lacks integrity for making this spat public. Other distributors should think twice before doing business with M-Edge.

That doesn't excuse them signing a contract, then not living up to it. That's illegal, and slimy.

CommonReader · 12-28-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbot

My opinion is that it's Amazon's store. They can sell whatever they want and charge M-Edge any fee. If M-Edge doesn't like that...then tough luck. This is just sour grapes. M-Edge lacks integrity for making this spat public. Other distributors should think twice before doing business with M-Edge.

You don't believe that contracts should be fulfilled, I suppose?

markbot · 12-28-2011, 03:15 PM

yeah, i suppose the fact that they had the 3 year contract makes amazon look like a d-bag. i should have read the article more closely. if this is the case, then it's amazon who lacks integrity by threatening to "play" with the listing...and thus forcing them to sign a new contract. it sounds like m-edge needs better contract negotiators.

although, we are only hearing one side of the story. i will reserve judgement until there are more facts. the patent infringement aspect seems bogus though.

JoHunt · 12-28-2011, 03:48 PM

The patent infringement allegation is also interesting. M-Edge claims to hold a patent for "the manufacture, use, sale of covers for ereaders with integrated lights". It appears though that the patent is for lights requiring batteries and of course, Amazon's lighted covers are powered by the device itself. I would be surprised if Amazon did not have their own patent for their lighted covers.

M-Edge is also claiming that Amazon is copying their covers by using the same colors, which seems to be a pretty weak argument as both use basic colors.

taustin · 12-28-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbot

yeah, i suppose the fact that they had the 3 year contract makes amazon look like a d-bag. i should have read the article more closely. if this is the case, then it's amazon who lacks integrity by threatening to "play" with the listing...and thus forcing them to sign a new contract. it sounds like m-edge needs better contract negotiators.

Sounds to me like they had such a good contract in the first place that Amazon didn't want to live up to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbot

although, we are only hearing one side of the story. i will reserve judgement until there are more facts. the patent infringement aspect seems bogus though.

We'll never hear enough facts to make an informed decision. If their allegations are true. Amazon are first class slime. If there's another side to it, well, there's another side to it. But as presented, the story makes Amazon look bad. And if M-Edge has patents, and Amazon infringed, there's nothing bogus about suing them for it.

taustin · 12-28-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joehunt

M-Edge is also claiming that Amazon is copying their covers by using the same colors, which seems to be a pretty weak argument as both use basic colors.

It is theoretically possible that the colors are part of a registered trademark. No idea if that's the case, but it's been done.

I suspect there is another side to this, but this is hardly the first time Amazon's been accused of douche-y business practices.

anamardoll · 12-28-2011, 04:54 PM

In unrelated news, I think any and all variations on the phrase "This is only one side of the story" should now be classified a derailing tactic.

I mean, what can you say to that? Yes, yes it is. Point?

(Insert mandatory thread-Godwin here.)

12-28-2011, 10:21 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,750 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Please, if you link to an WSJ article, please make sure we don't need a subscription to read it. http://www.geek.com/articles/news/ki...tion-20111228/ I know that link isn't to the WSJ. But it is to another article on the same subject. Last edited by JSWolf; 12-28-2011 at 10:27 AM.

12-28-2011, 03:15 PM	#11
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	yeah, i suppose the fact that they had the 3 year contract makes amazon look like a d-bag. i should have read the article more closely. if this is the case, then it's amazon who lacks integrity by threatening to "play" with the listing...and thus forcing them to sign a new contract. it sounds like m-edge needs better contract negotiators. although, we are only hearing one side of the story. i will reserve judgement until there are more facts. the patent infringement aspect seems bogus though. Last edited by markbot; 12-28-2011 at 03:23 PM.

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12-28-2011, 10:12 AM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Wow. That's...not good. I imagine this will be settled out of court.

12-28-2011, 11:52 AM	#5
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	So that's why I couldn't find any M-Edge lights on Amazon.

12-28-2011, 11:54 AM	#6
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	You feel quite out of it if you aren't being sued by, or sueing, Amazon or Apple........... I had a rectangular shortbread biscuit over Christmas, and felt mildly panicky for a second or two......

12-28-2011, 01:28 PM	#7
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	My opinion is that it's Amazon's store. They can sell whatever they want and charge M-Edge any fee. If M-Edge doesn't like that...then tough luck. This is just sour grapes. M-Edge lacks integrity for making this spat public. Other distributors should think twice before doing business with M-Edge.

12-28-2011, 03:48 PM	#12
JoHunt I am what I am Posts: 6,625 Karma: 62235665 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: iPad3, Voyage	The patent infringement allegation is also interesting. M-Edge claims to hold a patent for "the manufacture, use, sale of covers for ereaders with integrated lights". It appears though that the patent is for lights requiring batteries and of course, Amazon's lighted covers are powered by the device itself. I would be surprised if Amazon did not have their own patent for their lighted covers. M-Edge is also claiming that Amazon is copying their covers by using the same colors, which seems to be a pretty weak argument as both use basic colors.

12-28-2011, 04:54 PM	#15
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	In unrelated news, I think any and all variations on the phrase "This is only one side of the story" should now be classified a derailing tactic. I mean, what can you say to that? Yes, yes it is. Point? (Insert mandatory thread-Godwin here.)

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