Historical Patents: From Drive-In Theaters to Netflix
Posted on Mon, Jun 20, 2011
The way we watch movies has slowly evolved from a group activity done in a crowded theater to an experience taking place in the privacy of one’s own living room. Here, we look at one of the most social ways to watch a movie, the drive-in theater. Next, we’ll examine the patent behind one of the most intimate ways, Netflix’s online rental service.
Drive-In Theater
U.S. Patent No. 1909537
Today, drive-in theaters are a rare and dying business. However, when Richard M. Hollingshead opened his first outdoor theater in 1932, he started a trend that would forever be a part of American pop culture. His patent, granted in 1933, covered the “seating” facilities needed to ensure that the cars would not obstruct each other’s view. This was similar to stadium seating, but while it’s easy to arrange humans in this fashion, getting cars to fit required a lot more work! The patent also had to explain his method for letting cars both enter and exit the theater while minimizing traffic.
Netflix’s Business Model
U.S. Patent No. 2010/0005006 A1
Netflix has grown exponentially in the past decade and currently boasts over 23 million users in the United States and Canada. Netflix’s online video streaming is so popular, it is actually responsible for more downloads during peak online usage hours than any other website. Part of Netflix’s success can be traced back to patenting their business model. The patent covers Netflix’s method of renting items to customers, while specifically fitting in with the user interface offered on their website. In addition, the patent also details the different subscription policies Netflix offers, such as through which medium videos can be viewed and how many rentals can be out at a given time.
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