Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

IBM Sues Amazon For Patent Infringement

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the who-are-the-good-guys-again? dept.

A large number of readers wrote in about IBM suing Amazon over commerce patents. The Ars Technica coverage linked is one of the few sources that goes beyond the brief AP or Reuters stories that everyone is running. Here is IBM's press release. Some of the patents in question go back to the 80s and they do seem to pretty much wrap up the idea of online commerce, if they prove valid. IBM says many others are licensing the patents but Amazon won't give them the time of day on the subject.

3 of 163 comments (clear)

  1. An old slogan comes to mind by Kelson · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As crazy as this patent insanity gets, I can't help but think of the phrase, "Live by the sword, die by the sword."

  2. what IBM wants by wardk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IBM just wants amazon to let them use the heralded one-click "invention" without royalties. this is their first offer.

  3. No Kidding. by pavon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IBM's patent portfolio is truly frightening in that the only thing preventing it from doing massive harm to the industry is self restraint and the enlightened self interest of wanting to remain relevant in the industry. Let's just hope their business never goes south. If you thought that the IP trolls that make money by buying the patents portfolios of failed start-ups was bad, just imagine the hell that will be unleashed if IBM enters a downward spiral and decides to "refocus the company revenue strategies on their intellectual property licensing opportunities".