[OT] Any Evidence of internet cafes (pre-1998)?

[Bruce McCulley]

Michael ODonnell wrote:

>>The reason for this is rather important, and I would ask that
>>if any of the many talented folks on this list can provide any
>>information regarding this, to please email it to me personally.
>>    
>>
>
>
>Can you at least reassure us that you're not involved with somebody
>who's trying to patent the notion of an Internet cafe...      ;->
> 
>  
>
I assumed from the original post that the issue is obviously seeking to 
determine
the possible existence of prior art affecting patentability - only 
question in my
mind was whether the question was seeking to overturn such a patent 
travesty,
or seeking to validate it - upon further reflection it seems more likely 
to be seeking
information to support such a filing, since the time for such a 
challenge would
not occur until after the patent issued - unless some extortionist has 
filed and
is now seeking to collect licence fees on a "patent pending" basis?

Either way it seems to me that the scope would probably not be limited
to US I-net cafes, since a public disclosure overseas seems likely to
constitute prior art that would invalidate patentability - but IANAL so
that might be a false assumption.

In any case, I would think that 1998 is rather late in the game for an 
Internet cafe to
be introduced, although I can't provide any specific previously existing 
examples.

Regardless, I second the request for additional explanation - I'd like 
to know what
the patent filing status is, at least.

Thanks!

-lbm