IBM sues Amazon over patents used in ecommerce
Case highlights the increasing use of patents to try and get competitive advantage

IBM on Monday said it had filed two patent infringement lawsuits against online retailer Amazon over key technologies for the Internet service.
The suits accuse Amazon of wilfully violating technology patents covering such services as allowing users to order items from an electronic catalogue and displaying advertising in an interactive service.
"Dating back to September 2002, IBM has notified Amazon.com numerous times of the infringement, but Amazon.com has shown no willingness to have meaningful discussions," IBM said in a statement.
Other services IBM maintains are covered by its patents deal with storing data in an interactive network, and presenting applications in an interactive service.
The suits were filed in two separate U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Texas, IBM said.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
ITPro is a global business technology website providing the latest news, analysis, and business insight for IT decision-makers. Whether it's cyber security, cloud computing, IT infrastructure, or business strategy, we aim to equip leaders with the data they need to make informed IT investments.
For regular updates delivered to your inbox and social feeds, be sure to sign up to our daily newsletter and follow on us LinkedIn and Twitter.
-
Outgoing Kaseya CEO teases "this is just the beginning" for the company
Opinion We spoke to Fred Voccola who remains a key figurehead at the firm as it enters its next chapter...
-
Why Microsoft thinks diversity will keep security workers relevant in the age of agentic AI
News Improved AI skills and a greater focus on ensuring agents are secure at point of deployment will be key for staying ahead of attackers