Amazon Technologies Granted a Patent in Lighting Techniques
Shoot The Centerfold attendee photographer Dana Manner informed us of his discovery of an interesting patent filing for a popular lighting technique known to world of photography. Amazon Technologies seems to have stumbled on to something new and unknown. Have they discovered a new gold-rush in owning lighting techniques? Perhaps they should check out some of our lighting books.
On March 18, 2014 Amazon Technologies, Inc. (an operating subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc.) obtained a United States Patent (8,676,045) for a “Studio Arrangement” and a “method of capturing images and/or video.”
Many photographers will recognize this lighting set-up and method as being a very old, very common and very widely used lighting technique to photograph a subject against a white cyclorama background, where the subject is on a white base/platform, and the set is lit with multiple light sources pointed towards the background to overexpose (blow-out) the background and the base/platform, and with flags on either side of the subject to prevent overexposure of the subject. The method that Amazon has patented claims to “achieve a desired effect of a substantially seamless background.” You can find the patent here:
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=08676045&idkey=NONE
Now that Amazon holds this patented lighting method, can we as photographers expect to receive demand letters from Amazon’s attorneys demanding to cease and desist from infringing on their patented “Studio Arrangement” when we shoot images in the studio against a white cyc?
What do you think about this, my photography friends?
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I think it’s a bunch of B.S.! How can you patent and own something we phorographers have been doing for years and years?? They didn’t “discover” this technique!! This is about as stupid and arrogant as Donald Trump trying to patent the phrase “You’re Fired!”.
Get a grip Amazon!
Are we sure this was not an April Fools Joke? There is no possible gain for
Amazon and it’s not their business. Are they next going to patent dark grey as the colour of roads?
This comes as Congress is currently been lobbied to stop the mess caused by people taking out patents on features already in other’s products and then suing for damages.
In both situations, lawyers are the big winners.
How about everyone post this problem on their blogs, FB, etc, and encourage all photographers to close their Amazon account. Time to give back to the local mom and pops, and familiar national photo stores who graciously give back to our profession. My Amazon account is closed. Who will join me?
Please tell me this is a joke.
Full patent details can be found here – http://www.google.com/patents/US8676045
When reading the patent, be sure to ignore everything not in the Claims section. They’re not protected. Note also that all subsequent claims depend on claim 1 or 2, so if you do anything not covered in Claim 1 … Thats not covered. So this patent claim 1 only applies if you have ALL of
4 rear light sources, in a 10:3 intensity ratio, in exactly
An 85mm lens at f/5.6
ISO 320 set
An elevated platform with the object on it, and a reflective top surface on that platform
Similarly, claim 2 is full of equally specific statements, about reflective surfaces, multiple elevated platforms.
Secondly, if you’re using a setup substantially similar to that shown in any photography guide / textbook / lighting book etc. written prior to the filing date, you’re absolutely in the clear, as this is demonstrably prior art.
So, to answer your question “No, they haven’t”
F@#K Amazone if this is true its the most insane paten i have ever heard of, whats next Window light.
I use an elevated platform on a regular basis with a reflective surface. the amount of lights and position depend on the subject being shot. The problem is not Amazon filing this. The problem is the Patent office granting something so insane.
I was under the understanding that if something was used in public first it was not able to be patented. Maybe a one year grace. SO if they shot any product or video with this setup prior to the filing then it would be void as well since it was used in public domain first.
I have a photo of my dogs with a similar arrangement just 2 rear lights not 4.
It is like patenting how you arrange silverware and dishes on a table. Every arrangement has been done it is all public domain. The patent office has failed on this one.
I was using this lighting setup way back in the 60s.
Boy, don’t tell Joel Grimes. That’s totally his thing.
I think I will go put my patent on the sun now.
Umm, PPA needs to chime in as this is absolutely ridiculous. That’s like saying we are going to put a patent on pages in a book.
Get a clue Amazon!!!!!!
they will send a drone to assassinate you if you do abuse their “patent”. they know your address from that playboy subscription you get from them 🙂 🙂
Maybe is time to boycott Amazon.
Amazing that everyone has been doing this for the last 40 years as so many posts have stated. I learned a great white background alternative to the Amazon setup at the www. PhotoAssistantBootCamp .com I attended a few years ago. And they have been teaching this lighting setup for the past 15 years, long before Amazon even filed their Patent.
Just shoot the exact setup at f5.7 and you’re in the clear.