I doubt that whoever approved that one-click patent was an expert on computer-based technology. I would definitely not call the Amazon patent a new technology, nor a unique / original use of existing technologies.
But, what do I know? Microsoft should try to get a hold of the right click. At 10:12 AM 9/12/2002 -0500, you wrote: >When can you call something technology? Like if I made my forms look >different for each user according to their preference, is that called >technology? To me it's just a few lines of coding and logic. > >The same thing goes with Amazon's One-Click "technology". I am sure most of >us have heard of it, and can easily > >here's an excerpt from an article on Zdnet. > >"The technology behind one-click is surprisingly uncomplicated. Essentially, >shoppers are agreeing to skip several of the review and confirmation steps >of the buying process. Customers set up a one-click account with the address >they want products shipped to and a credit card to pay for it. Newer >versions allow consumers to choose from preset multiple addresses and credit >cards using dropdown menus on product pages. > >Since then, however, Amazon has licensed the technology to other companies, >and partners such as Target have made the technology available to even more >shoppers." > > >They licensed it?! I mean, sure, the idea was "great", but it wasn't some >technological breakthrough...It seems as if you can every little >functionality in your application a a fancy name and call it a technology. >"Look! A form that let's you know if you typed in your email address wrong! >What a technological breakthrough!" - And it's no more complicated than >One-Click. > >So is the term subjective? I guess if you get enough lawyers you can call a >pig a horse. > > > ______________________________________________________________________ Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
