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There is a lot to wonder about here like... Should people be comfortable with Amazon tracking their drug purchases alongside all the other tracking they do of

by mfer 6y ago

There is a lot to wonder about here like... Should people be comfortable with Amazon tracking their drug purchases alongside all the other tracking they do of them? How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Amazon has copied many patented products to sell under their own brand. Would they do that with drugs and use the same tactics?

SamuelAdams 6y ago
> How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Likely not at all. HIPAA comes into play here. Typically any information provided under a HIPAA context cannot be used for solicitation or marketing purposes. For non-USA amazon users, I'm sure other laws apply. Source: used to work at a big retailer and had to remind managers of this frequently when they wanted to "integrate data from all these systems".
- mfer 6y ago
  Amazon has a history of taking patented designs, copying them, selling them for less with better visibility, and threatening patent holders. This is an element that speaks to the character of the organization. So, that makes me wonder... > Typically any information provided under a HIPAA context cannot be used for solicitation or marketing purposes. I wonder if they could put in their terms & conditions that you give them permission to do it.
  - pkaye 6y ago
    > Amazon has a history of taking patented designs, copying them, selling them for less with better visibility, and threatening patent holders Can you provide an example?
    - kodah 6y ago
      This is common knowledge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-tech-startup-echo-bezos-alexa-investment-fund-11595520249 https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-tech-startup-echo-bezos-... When I worked in startups this was long rumored with little proof. After years it's become quite clear what's happened. Amazon Show is a knockoff of a Nucleus (https://www.vox.com/2017/5/10/15602814/amazon-invested-startup-nucleus-cloned-alexa-echo-show-voice-control-touchscreen-video https://www.vox.com/2017/5/10/15602814/amazon-invested-start...) Amazon Echo https://gizmodo.com/did-amazon-rip-off-the-echo-show-from-a-startup-it-inve-1795086198 https://gizmodo.com/did-amazon-rip-off-the-echo-show-from-a-... This trend goes on
  - fuzxi 6y ago
    >I wonder if they could put in their terms & conditions that you give them permission to do it. ToS agreements and EULAs are not legally binding. You can't sign away your rights.
dazc 6y ago
Copying prescription drugs and selling under their own brand is likely more difficult than buying generic staplers and putting a Basics label on them?
- mfer 6y ago
  Notice, I didn't stay buying generic staplers. One of the things recently brought up is Amazon copying the designs of patented things (not generic). Then selling copies of the patented items. Drugs are going to be a different animal and there is regulation there which may stop it.
  - petra 6y ago
    I believe patent protection on medicine is strong - because it's possible to write strong patents , because those companies have big pockets and because, like you said, regulators(FDA) will in all likelihood won't be happy.

by mfer 6y ago

SamuelAdams 6y ago

> How will Amazon use the tracking information from drug purchases? Likely not at all. HIPAA comes into play here. Typically any information provided under a HIPAA context cannot be used for solicitation or marketing purposes. For non-USA amazon users, I'm sure other laws apply. Source: used to work at a big retailer and had to remind managers of this frequently when they wanted to "integrate data from all these systems".

mfer 6y ago
Amazon has a history of taking patented designs, copying them, selling them for less with better visibility, and threatening patent holders. This is an element that speaks to the character of the organization. So, that makes me wonder... > Typically any information provided under a HIPAA context cannot be used for solicitation or marketing purposes. I wonder if they could put in their terms & conditions that you give them permission to do it.
- pkaye 6y ago
  > Amazon has a history of taking patented designs, copying them, selling them for less with better visibility, and threatening patent holders Can you provide an example?
  - kodah 6y ago
    This is common knowledge: https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-tech-startup-echo-bezos-alexa-investment-fund-11595520249 https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-tech-startup-echo-bezos-... When I worked in startups this was long rumored with little proof. After years it's become quite clear what's happened. Amazon Show is a knockoff of a Nucleus (https://www.vox.com/2017/5/10/15602814/amazon-invested-startup-nucleus-cloned-alexa-echo-show-voice-control-touchscreen-video https://www.vox.com/2017/5/10/15602814/amazon-invested-start...) Amazon Echo https://gizmodo.com/did-amazon-rip-off-the-echo-show-from-a-startup-it-inve-1795086198 https://gizmodo.com/did-amazon-rip-off-the-echo-show-from-a-... This trend goes on
- fuzxi 6y ago
  >I wonder if they could put in their terms & conditions that you give them permission to do it. ToS agreements and EULAs are not legally binding. You can't sign away your rights.

dazc 6y ago

Copying prescription drugs and selling under their own brand is likely more difficult than buying generic staplers and putting a Basics label on them?

mfer 6y ago
Notice, I didn't stay buying generic staplers. One of the things recently brought up is Amazon copying the designs of patented things (not generic). Then selling copies of the patented items. Drugs are going to be a different animal and there is regulation there which may stop it.
- petra 6y ago
  I believe patent protection on medicine is strong - because it's possible to write strong patents , because those companies have big pockets and because, like you said, regulators(FDA) will in all likelihood won't be happy.