I.B.M. Sues Amazon.com Over Patents

eコマース関連の特許でIBMがAmazonを訴えた件。IBMは2002年からAmazomnにクレームをつけていたようだが，いずれも成功せずとNew York Timesは報じている。なにせ世界の特許王だけに影響は大きい。数億ドルの賠償との見積もりも。

The suits, filed in two federal courts in Texas, seek unspecified damages, but I.B.M. says that Amazon’s infringement is broad, suggesting the potential for a sizable judgment or settlement. An I.B.M. spokesman said the figure could run to hundreds of millions of dollars.

特許の中身は以下の通り

The five patents that are the subject of the lawsuits cover software-based techniques for storing, retrieving and displaying information on Internet commerce Web sites, for making buying recommendations, and for handling online transactions. I.B.M. filed for the five patents from 1988 to 1992, based on research that sometimes stretched back for years. Four of the five patents were issued from 1994 to 1998. A fifth patent, for displaying online advertising, was issued this year.