News

The IBM suit against Amazon – a non-event?

On Tuesday, October 24, IBM filed in Texas federal court two suits for patent infringement against Amazon Inc. While details of five patents were not disclosed, one patent attracted particular interest: Patent US 5,319,542 - Ordering Items Using an Electronic Catalogue. Is it possible that IBM challenges the famous “one-click order” patent of Amazon? In any case, if the suit comes to trial, it will provide an opportunity to test not only the validity of this particular patent, but more generally of “business methods” patents, which have been highly controversial.
07 Nov 2006