From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@www.aeiveos.com)
Date: Wed Oct 13 1999 - 10:33:02 MDT
On Wed, 13 Oct 1999, Timothy Bates wrote:
>
> Re: Amazon's 1-Click Shopping patent
>
> Do you reall ythink that the idea of clicking a button to buy something
> needs patent protection for someone to invent it?
>
But remember all a patent allows you to do is prevent someone else
from using it. So all the other stores do:
[Click Here to purchase]
[Click Here a 2nd time to purchase becuase of Amazons's enforcement of
its patent on 1 click shopping (You be the Judge of stupid patents)]
So Amazons attempt to enforce it could turn into a marketing debacle
if people want to use it against them.
The difference is in shifting the cost of patent enforcement from
the competitor to the consumer where he can see it (and pays for
it with his time). Most producers have to license the patents
because it is required for them to stay in business in a competitive
arena but when you can use a patent against the patent holder
via forcing the costs to the purchaser level then you have a very
different game.
Patents are of little use if there are easy ways around them.
Robert
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