Amazon.com has been awarded a patent for consumer reviews, which covers methods for encouraging consumers to write reviews of items they've purchased by determining the optimal times to send them emails or reminders - and even the method of collecting reviews by letting visitors to a website fill out a form - writes InternetNews. Scores of online retailers and other publishers use such reviews. The patent also covers the method of tracking who returns to rate products by asking them to click on a unique link in an email.

Presumably, the patent would apply whether a user clicks with a right-handed or left-handed mouse or other, similar device.