Amazon.com Vs. Free Enterprise

If you haven't heard already, there are historical events taking
place on the Web today! It's happening in the courtroom of public
opinion on the WWW. Of course we are referring to the saga of
Amazon.com Vs. Free Enterprise.

It seems both Amazon.com and the USPTO (United States Patent and
Trademark Office) are guilty according to the people. There seems to
be a strong general consensus that Amazon.com is attempting to take
advantage here. By utilizing the USPTO and it's lack of knowledge on
Web Technology to it's advantage. The only purpose for obtaining
these patents seems to be squashing the competition. At the same
time the USPTO according to consensus has let the people down.
Overwhelmed not only by the vast number of patent applications in
the ever expanding technological field of the web, but also the lack
of understanding and comprehension of what they are granting patents
on. If they fully understood the technology they were issuing
patents on, they would clearly see their mistakes.

Has Amazon.com Forgotten Who Made Them Successful?

While Amazon.com and their attorney's were probably ecstatic this
week with the granting of the latest patent on affiliate
"technology", they forgot one thing, the PEOPLE. They forgot the
power of numbers from small business owners to all of the consumers
that have made their success possible.

If Amazon.com enforces this patent as it has in the past with
another patent, their faithful affiliates stand to lose vast amounts
of income. Most affiliates of Amazon.com belong to other programs
that pay much better and produce a larger percentage of their
income. At the same time, many of their customers are affiliates of
Amazon.com as well as small to large businesses utilizing affiliate
software. Enforcement of this patent would not only be detrimental
to Free Enterprise on the WWW, but also create economic loss to
other businesses in the billions of dollars.

The Little Guy Fights Back

Even though Amazon.com was a pioneer in the affiliate arena, the
once gentle, well respected giant, seems to have decided to look out
for number one, themselves, and forget those that made them so
successful. Well, the little people decided to do something about
it. Like ants coming out of an anthill to protect their queen, the
little people seem to be uniting
under a common banner and scurrying to spread the news to boycott
Amazon.com

This has to be the greatest moment to date on the WWW. I am not
referring to Amazon.com and what the future holds for them.
This is about much more than that. It's about global unity for a
common cause. Never before has there been such a global out pouring
of people from all cultures.Their message, to inform Amazon.com and
forewarn others applying for technological patents for web based
applications, do not stand in the way of progress by stepping on
Free Enterprise.

Here is the ironic part to date. The fact that Amazon.com has been
losing what once were their customers, to their number one
competitor, Barnes & Noble, by taking such bold steps in procuring
technology that rightfully belongs to all. What was done for
self-gain has so far only succeeded in creating bad press and lower
sales.

Stay tuned for the next chapter as we read from a book purchased
at Barnes and Noble!