Re: [mv] Amazon (Patent) US5960411: Method and system for placinga purchase order via a communications

[Ed LaFrance <edlafrance@printexusa.com>]

>******    message to minivend-users from jojo@buchonline.net     ******
>
>Hi list,
>
>what is happen with this US-Patent??
>
>Why are able to use the one-click-search, one-click-order etc.!
>
>Please see this URL
>
>http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?&pn=US05960411__
>
>and
>
>http://linuxtoday.com/stories/13652.html
>
>Any comments?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Joachim
>

Yes I have two comments:

1).  The "experts" who work at the US patent office DO NOT UNDERSTAND the
technology they are issuing patents for; consequently, they are inclined to
be swayed the the authors argument that their widget, system, framework,
whatever, is somehow SIGNIFICANTLY different or unique vs. existing patents
and/or conventions which have fallen into defacto public domain via
pervasive use **like oneline shopping carts**.

2). Lawyers screw everything up.  Of course, it is the legal mucky-mucks at
Amazon.com, IBM, etc, who are strokin the egos of their benefactors,
convincing them that their widget, system, framework, etc, which looks and
acts much like everyone elses, is somehow UNIQUE just because it is THIERS.

There was a time when the patent office made sense (the days of Edison,
Ford,etc).  I'm afraid that now (with the occasional, rare exception), it
has just become the venue for yet another three-ring circus of litigation
and grand-standing.

- Ed L.

-
PRINTEX Marking Technologies
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edlafrance@printexusa.com
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