There is a company called BTG that has acquired a patent that they believe is the basis for affiliate programs. They claim they own the way affiliate programs link.

The patent is at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...&RS=PN/5712979

BTG is currently suing Amazon and some other companies. Barnes and Nobles already settled.

Their patent is from 1995 but I am sure this linking method was before that. It is just ridiculous.

Mark