Amazon.com (OT)

[Carlsson79]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C2591
From: Carlsson79
Subject: Re: Amazon.com (OT)
Reply To: [Yahoo! #2583] Re: Amazon.com (OT)
Date: 6/22/00 8:57 am  (ET)

> Their argument is that the 1-click software is not sufficiently
mysterious to have deserved a US patent; apparently, a patent isn't
merited if an expert in the field could work out how to reproduce the
'invention'.

It really is simple. I am sorry I am beggining to sound tetchy (beggining)
- bound to be a spelling error - <g>. Anyway - it IS SIMPLE! Take almost
any large website - when you are logged on with your own computer, you
can save a 'cookie' file - that gives you a personal experience. Yahoo,
for instance. They store details about which clubs ou are in, monitor,
they will keep a list of stocks, shares - chat names, Yahoo! ID's -
and chat rooms you have marked out as favourites, and, as you are not
logged on as a guest - you can customise the entire experience.

Granted, the Cookie may expire aftery, or 15 minutes, in my case -
but you can go to your own personalised clubs with a click. Even with
little technicall knowledge, you should be able to see that these
cookies have ben around for ages, and were not invented by Amazon. Not
even the one-click system was - despite they are the first to use it
for shopping. Incindentally - Netscape invented cookies, to my knowledge.

The use of this is fine, but by tryng to patent such an obvious technology
- which was not invented by themselves is bad. They are getting money out
of something they didn't invent - and threaten to halt e-commerce. The
fact that this patent was granted is stupid, as the US patent ofice
obviously didn't have a monkeys what this technology was.

This is to me, is quite appauling. They may as well patent the way
people use cash registers, or HTML web pages! They are facing hefty
legal costs in the short term, and a huge loss as they drag people in
with special offers, and vouchers - but if they keeps suing people for
the use of cookies - they'll have the web to themelves. They are being
totally imorall - and the only thing we can do is 'vote with our money'
- I really think you should all question your moral values and then take
a good look at what amazon are actually doing, and how they will damage
the internet. Then make up your minds.

I knw what their service is like - my friends used to use it - but just
think of the consequences - if they win this court case, and then others.

What else have I got to say - not much. Sorry. I know this was long,
but I am no good at explaining things, especially if they really annoy me.

Nicholas