Looks like the patent money grabbing has finally reached NZ. This has been going on for some time in the US, so I guess it was just a matter of time... The US Patent Office has enjoyed considerable criticism recently for the granting of erroneous patents, and prior art never seemed to concern them if it wasn't created in the US. By the looks of the DE Technologies site, they are claiming the right to licence ALL international commerce transactions, and that they are due royalties on every transaction. "It is the position of the founders that only BOEST technology should become the foundation cornerstone for any digital system that engages in global commerce and that the inventors should be able to enforce the protection of the system's capabilities and royalty/licensing fees via the patent laws of the United States Government." Clearly unacceptable. I wonder who slipped that through here.... Something for Juha to do an article on? I'd hate to see us having to jump through US legal hoops every time we develop a product Gordon Smith CCNA Network Operations Manager MoreNet Ltd PGP Fingerprint: 4B12 FBE4 784A 3294 6637 4587 AB6F C893 AB2C 952C