Does anyone find this patent a bit disturbing? It claims that user customization of a web site, where the information is stored at the server, is now patented.

"The customization information is stored at the server with reference to user identifying information that uniquely identifies the user, and the server returns the user identifying information to the user (i.e., the browser on the user computer or client). In one embodiment, the user identifying information is customization persistent client state information, sometimes referred to as a "cookie." The customization persistent client state information is or includes, for example, 128-bit globally unique identifiers ("GUID") that are capable of uniquely identifying each and every user. "
IANAL, but it seems this patent is quite broad, and that this bbs would be in violation. (Insert usual Bill Gates/Microsoft bashing here.) I hope this one gets invalidated soon.

-jk