Re: potent patent problems
RACHEL CHERVATIN <so_cue_at_hotmail.com> WROTE:
> http://www.business2.com/content/channels/ebusiness/2001/01/08/24205
>
> I freaked out when reading this, how does anyone have a
> patent on pop up window advertising, wasn't the adult
> industry doing this way before NetZero?
It depends on how the popups are implemented. Netzero
(or anyone) can patent a new way of doing the same old
thing.
> This is similar to Amazon patenting one-click
> purchasing, though it is more specifically an online
> advertising issue - is no one speaking up about this?
Unless it can be shown that Netzero's software is
violating some other patent, or is clearly making use
of "open code" (and that is a very difficult area to
define), their patent is probably enforceable.
> I am curious about everyone's thoughts on this
> seemingly ridiculous patent.
I wouldn't call any attempt to control a technology, no
matter how minor, ridiculous. People are carving out
niches on the Internet and Netzero is obviously
looking to enlarge its niche. Perhaps if they treated
their users better more people would stay with the
service, but they put advertisers first and have
driven many people like me to use them only as an
emergency fallback service. One which, I might add, I
haven't needed to use in several months. I keep my
Netzero account active for my domain registration
because I jump ship on ISPs when I find a better deal.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
info_at_xenite.org
http://www.xenite.org/
Received on Wed Jan 17 2001 - 20:48:08 CST
