4 ms·

It's kind of amazing that the company that is finally standing up against insane, stupid patents is ... a bookstore. But perhaps it's because B&N doesn't have

by jfruh 15y ago

It's kind of amazing that the company that is finally standing up against insane, stupid patents is ... a bookstore. But perhaps it's because B&N doesn't have any mobile patents of its own to defend?

marquis 15y ago
and a lot to gain, given their interest in getting a stronger position in the market.
jbigelow76 15y ago
I was thinking the same thing, but I think it might have more to do with the fact that B&N would have no other relationship with Microsoft as an OEM in other markets. Samsung, HTC, Dell, etc... all have other cross cutting businesses that could influence whether they play ball with MS on issues like mobile patents, B&N has no such constraints. EDIT: In addition the Nook is probably the lone shining star in the B&N business, they can't surrender a single point of margin if they don't have to. If the Nook becomes untenable as a business B&N could become untenable as a business and sooner or later they'll go the way of Borders Books.
- jvanenk 15y ago
  This is along the lines of what I was thinking. B&N is at the point where they have to make a last stand. They really have little to lose by pursuing this case which really frees up their legal team politically.
- atourgates 15y ago
  I keep hearing the idea that the Nook is B&N's last great hope, but I don't buy it. Every time I go in to a B&N physical store, it's packed. They're one of the few stores I'll go to just for the experience of going in there. They're relaxing. They're pleasant places to be. Certainly, book sales face stiff online competition, but I find it hard to believe that a company with 705 physical locations that people want to be in, (plus 636 college book stores), can't find a way to make a profit even if the Nook should fail.
  - thematt 15y ago
    They may be packed, but that doesn't mean much by itself, because their book sales are in decline. The stores are relaxing but according to a friend who works there -- many people go there just to browse it like a library, read for a few minutes and then go buy their stuff on Amazon.
    - bryanlarsen 15y ago
      That's what I try to do, but it often doesn't work. I walk in to Chapters thinking that I'll just order the books I want from the library. Then I start reading something and end up buying it because I need to finish it now, rather than waiting the day or two it would take to get it from the library...
    - jseliger 15y ago
      read for a few minutes and then go buy their stuff on Amazon. BN.com has made its prices competitive with Amazon (finally!). I got an offer for a BN credit card, similar to the Amazon Visa, in the mail a few days ago. BN might finally be making a real play against Amazon. It might be too late, but it's nice to finally find them in the game. I wonder of BN's stores will evolve in an Apple Store-like direction, with physical book sales that happen to match online prices.
      - r00fus 15y ago
        > It might be too late, but it's nice to finally find them in the game. I don't think it's too late - Amazon has a philosophy that seems to indicate different strengths than B&N. Apple has proven that brick&mortar stores combined with a powerful brand can work for content and device sales. Further, in order for B&N to thrive, Amazon doesn't have to lose...
  - FaceKicker 15y ago
    > Every time I go in to a B&N physical store, it's packed. They're one of the few stores I'll go to just for the experience of going in there. And there's the problem - it's packed because people are in there just for the experience of going in there. That doesn't pay the bills.
saturdaysaint 15y ago
I suspect that this stand is at least partly the result of vicious competition from Amazon - adding a $20 license fee to the BOM just might make B & N's devices completely uncompetitive. And if they don't have a credible electronic device on the market, it's hard to see them existing in 3 years.

by jfruh 15y ago

It's kind of amazing that the company that is finally standing up against insane, stupid patents is ... a bookstore. But perhaps it's because B&N doesn't have any mobile patents of its own to defend?

marquis 15y ago

and a lot to gain, given their interest in getting a stronger position in the market.

jbigelow76 15y ago

I was thinking the same thing, but I think it might have more to do with the fact that B&N would have no other relationship with Microsoft as an OEM in other markets. Samsung, HTC, Dell, etc... all have other cross cutting businesses that could influence whether they play ball with MS on issues like mobile patents, B&N has no such constraints. EDIT: In addition the Nook is probably the lone shining star in the B&N business, they can't surrender a single point of margin if they don't have to. If the Nook becomes untenable as a business B&N could become untenable as a business and sooner or later they'll go the way of Borders Books.

jvanenk 15y ago
This is along the lines of what I was thinking. B&N is at the point where they have to make a last stand. They really have little to lose by pursuing this case which really frees up their legal team politically.
atourgates 15y ago
I keep hearing the idea that the Nook is B&N's last great hope, but I don't buy it. Every time I go in to a B&N physical store, it's packed. They're one of the few stores I'll go to just for the experience of going in there. They're relaxing. They're pleasant places to be. Certainly, book sales face stiff online competition, but I find it hard to believe that a company with 705 physical locations that people want to be in, (plus 636 college book stores), can't find a way to make a profit even if the Nook should fail.
- thematt 15y ago
  They may be packed, but that doesn't mean much by itself, because their book sales are in decline. The stores are relaxing but according to a friend who works there -- many people go there just to browse it like a library, read for a few minutes and then go buy their stuff on Amazon.
  - bryanlarsen 15y ago
    That's what I try to do, but it often doesn't work. I walk in to Chapters thinking that I'll just order the books I want from the library. Then I start reading something and end up buying it because I need to finish it now, rather than waiting the day or two it would take to get it from the library...
  - jseliger 15y ago
    read for a few minutes and then go buy their stuff on Amazon. BN.com has made its prices competitive with Amazon (finally!). I got an offer for a BN credit card, similar to the Amazon Visa, in the mail a few days ago. BN might finally be making a real play against Amazon. It might be too late, but it's nice to finally find them in the game. I wonder of BN's stores will evolve in an Apple Store-like direction, with physical book sales that happen to match online prices.
    - r00fus 15y ago
      > It might be too late, but it's nice to finally find them in the game. I don't think it's too late - Amazon has a philosophy that seems to indicate different strengths than B&N. Apple has proven that brick&mortar stores combined with a powerful brand can work for content and device sales. Further, in order for B&N to thrive, Amazon doesn't have to lose...
- FaceKicker 15y ago
  > Every time I go in to a B&N physical store, it's packed. They're one of the few stores I'll go to just for the experience of going in there. And there's the problem - it's packed because people are in there just for the experience of going in there. That doesn't pay the bills.

saturdaysaint 15y ago

I suspect that this stand is at least partly the result of vicious competition from Amazon - adding a $20 license fee to the BOM just might make B & N's devices completely uncompetitive. And if they don't have a credible electronic device on the market, it's hard to see them existing in 3 years.