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Starbucks seeks patent on "loyalty" cards

From the Register.co.uk, we learn:

Two Starbucks patent applications seek to protect the electronic loyalty card. One, application (#20050077350), aims to cover a "dual card", a combined credit card and electronic loyalty card for Starbucks own stores, for example.

A second application (#20050080672) by the same applicants seeks to protect the transactional system that exchanges data between the loyalty card and the credit card. Traditionally, the credit card cartel takes mandatory fees from vendors. With this patent, Starbucks looks to turn the tables on this arrangement.

Which reminds me: have you seen the Starbucks Delocator?

(Thanks, Jed Horovitz!)