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E-Commerce Battles 'Me'-Commerce / A lone patent holder asserts vast rights over shopping on the Web. Others call it extortion.
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:54:18 -0500
------ Forwarded Message From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com> Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2003 09:53:26 -0500 To: undisclosed-recipient:; Subject: E-Commerce Battles 'Me'-Commerce / A lone patent holder asserts vast rights over shopping on the Web. Others call it extortion. E-Commerce Battles 'Me'-Commerce A lone patent holder asserts vast rights over shopping on the Web. Others call it extortion. By David Streitfeld LA Times Staff Writer February 8 2003 It took seven years and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, but Lawrence Lockwood was finally awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,289,319 in September 2001. The former San Diego travel agent believed that the patent, for an "automatic business and financial transaction processing system," gave him significant control over shopping on the Internet. He promptly sent letters to 100 e-commerce firms, saying they were violating his new patent as well as one from 1996. He politely suggested they buy a license from him for $10,000, although he hinted that the price was negotiable. Ten companies told him to get lost. The 90 others didn't bother to reply. "American businesses do not respond when you ask them nicely," Lockwood said. So he started suing them -- a New Jersey plumbing supply company, a New York ski shop, an Oregon fabric store. This has gotten their attention, and often their money too. Lockwood's targets complain that he is practicing "legalized extortion," an accusation he denies. ... http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-patent8feb08001442,1,3711257.story ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To unsubscribe or update your address, click http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- E-Commerce Battles 'Me'-Commerce / A lone patent holder asserts vast rights over shopping on the Web. Others call it extortion. Dave Farber (Feb 10)