The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size: Select small text. Select medium text. Select large text.

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
IBM Sues Amazon Over Patents

IBM Sues Amazon Over Patents

by , 3:00 PM EDT, October 23rd, 2006

IBM on Monday said it has filed a pair of lawsuits against Amazon.com, alleging that the online retailer has infringed on five patents, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). IBM has licensed the patents to other companies and has tried to work with Amazon.com "over a dozen times since 2002," but it "has refused every time," according to the court filings.

The patents include technologies that deal with customer recommendations, advertising, and data storage. The Wall Street Journal characterized them as "broad" and said that some of them were originally filed in the 1980s. The newspaper also noted that Amazon.com's well-known "one-click patent" is currently under review by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office after receiving criticism that it was "overly broad and obvious."

John E. Kelly, IBM's senior vice-president for intellectual property, said of his company's patents: "These are very fundamental inventions for e-commerce and how to do it on the network. Much, if not all, of Amazon's business is built on top of this property.'' Amazon.com declined to comment.

Digg!

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Comment on this Article


Guest Posts Visible. Hide Them.
Back to top  Page 1 of 1    

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated March 21st

Fri, 5:55 PM
Games - Namco Releases Match-Three Game Tinseltown Dreams to the App Store
5:16 PM
News - iPad Launch Day Deadline for Developers: March 27
5:11 PM
News - Steve Jobs Helps Promote Organ Donor Legislation
4:06 PM
iPad - VIVmag Shows Off Interactive iPad Version in the Works
3:07 PM
App Store - Microsoft Yanks Bing App From Foreign App Stores
2:05 PM
iObserver - Analysts Downgrade Troubled Palm Amid Severe Revenue Drop
1:35 PM
In-Depth Review - PhoneSuite MiLi Packs a Powerful Punch
1:11 PM
News - YouTube to Viacom: Sue Yourself
11:34 AM
Product News - PocketMac for BlackBerry 5 Improves Snow Leopard Support
10:59 AM
News - Apple iGroups Patent Hints at Social Networking Plans
10:20 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Reader Discussion: Who Will Buy Palm?
9:50 AM
News - Bharti Airtel Lands India iPhone 3GS Deal

The Mac Observer Reader Specials
  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!