Phyllis Schlafly cared very deeply about patents. Patents protect inventors and entrepreneurs alike, encouraging them to get creative and make new products. We all reap the benefits of our patent system every day. Patents are the safeguard that provides fertile soil for innovation to flourish. Amazon, however, does not care about patents.
One brand you may have heard of recently is Ridge Wallet. The creator, Sean Frank, holds a patent for the ultra-thin wallet design. He has been very successful, which has allowed him to run more ads. With success comes jealousy, though, and with jealousy comes copy-catting. Many on the site are selling knock-offs of his wallet design.
In a thread on X, Sean details his discontent with the way Amazon has treated his brand, which has brought in millions in revenue for the website. He points out that Amazon is rife with copyright and patent violations, but the company does nothing about it because it brings in ad revenue.
Sean stated: “Do you know the niche I compete in is called “ridge wallet for men?” The entire sub-section of Amazon is named after me. I don’t need Amazon. I have a [100 million plus] Shopify store. I think Amazon needs me, a legitimate and real brand.”
When Sean reached out to Amazon’s legal team, they shut him down, ending the conversation with “Don’t contact us anymore.”
Amazon is actively facilitating infringement of the American patent system and doing nothing about it. This is no way to treat innovators and business owners. These innovators are the core drivers of the consumer products market, which Amazon facilitates. If Amazon doesn’t protect them, it will be bad for them both legally and economically in the long run.
Sean concludes with “Help this little wallet man fight the 1.89 trillion dollar company.”
This post originally appeared at https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/liberalism-and-conservatism/economy/amazon-doesnt-care-about-patent-holders/
