Court gives ok on Blockbuster antitrust suit against Netflix
By Ryan Block 
posted August 24th 2006 9:01AM
posted August 24th 2006 9:01AM
So Netflix sues Blockbuster, and then in response Blockbuster countersues Netflix for antitrust violations -- aight, kind of makes sense. But things went from bad to downright ugly now that Judge William Alsup, a US District federal judge in San Francisco, granted Blockbuster the permission necessary to officially proceed with their antitrust suit; doesn't mean anything in terms of verdict, though, just that Blockbuster can move forward with the case. Netflix, however, retains the ability to re-petition the court to dismiss the case further into the proceedings, but for now it looks like both companies are going to have to gear up for a two-front war. Can't you two just kiss, make up, and instead put that money into lobbying the SEC for a megamerger of online DVD rental businesses? It's not like any of this is going to matter in a couple of years once everyone's switched to downloaded content and all this DVD rental stuff is going to be a laughable blip on the radar at best.
"The complaint focuses largely on the online wish lists that prioritize the DVD desires of about 5.4 million people who subscribe to either Netflix or Blockbuster’s Internet service.Netflix also believes its patents cover perhaps its most popular feature — the option of renting a DVD for an unlimited time without incurring late fees."
I don't see how Netflix should be able to sue Blockbuster in the first place. The Blockbuster suit is only there because of the Netflix suit.
I don't see how a queue for movies is a patent. Unlimited rentals doesn't seem that it should be patented either.
But come on... I mean putting the movies you want to rent in the future in a list is such a mind-blowing idea. Of course it deserves a patent. I mean, I can't believe McDonald's (or whatever fastfood chain came up with value meals) didn't sue Wendy's or Burger King for that matter. Aren't lawsuits what make this country great?
No Chad, it's the fast food and fat kids that makes this country great!
Online downloads will not be here soon..Like I am going to be able to download the Criterion version of anything sometime in the next few years...On top of either re-wiring my living room to get the films, or depending on my cable carrier to give me WHATEVER I want....I cant see it for the next 15 to 20 years, not to mention it being cost effective.
Five years tops. And we'll all be downloading movies.
As for Netflix and Blockbuster,
"A pox on both their houses."
Netflix did nothing but screw me around for 2 years so I switched to Blockbuster and LOVE IT!!! The reason I did not switch sooner as I had built up this queue of obscure movies and did not want to hassle doing that again. Screw Netflix!