OpenTV joins Amazon patent battle

Interactive TV software vendor OpenTV has marched into a long running patent battle between Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble over one-click shopping, claiming that it was the first to patent the technology.

Amazon has always claimed that it patented the concept and is asserting its rights as patent holder against arch rival Barnes and Noble.

However, OpenTV, a France-based provider of software for 10 million installed digital TV set-top boxes, said it recently applied to extend one of its own patents to include one-click shopping.

Amazon has licensed its '1-click' technology to other major ecommerce websites, such as Apple's online store.

Craig Opperman, chief intellectual property officer at OpenTV, said: "In our view, one-click shopping is very useful to interactive television. We believe the US Patent (5819034) clearly describes single interaction shopping in client/server and interactive television environments."

"Amazon could be precluded from using its patent against anyone practising what is taught in our patent," he added.

US patents don't, however, carry the same weight as they do in the UK. Many thousands of patents are issued every year in the areas of 'Computer Systems' and 'Computer Applications'. To qualify for registration, an invention is supposed to be 'new' or 'not obvious'.

The main problem is that the US Patent Office is overrun with applications and doesn't have the resources to research 'Prior Art' to the level of detail required. Prior Art is the term used for evidence that proves that the idea isn't new.

Indeed, this has resulted in a number of everyday interactions being patented. For example, using a credit card to buy goods online, and electronic shopping carts (OpenMarket 5715314 and 5724424), embedding hot links in emails to past customers, and saying 'click here for our new site' (NetDelivery 5790793) and rewarding people for reading your advertising (Cybergold 5794210).

Even hyperlinks - without which the web wouldn't exist - were called into question this summer when BT claimed that it owned the patent.

See also:

Europe tackles software patent chaos

With some saying that US software patent law is out of control, European governments are now trying to get a grip.  27 Oct 2000

Will Amazon's goose be cooked by Christmas?

Investors are reserving judgement on Amazon's chances of survival until they see what happens in the make or break Christmas period.  26 Oct 2000

UK set for US-style software patent laws

Software writers would be able to patent their programs in the UK for the first time under law changes being considered by the European Commission.  23 Oct 2000

BT challenged over hyperlink patent

BT's attempt to enforce a patent on internet hyperlinks has been thrown into fresh doubt by video footage of a 1968 research project.  02 Oct 2000

Amazon and eBay - a perfect match?

As eBay celebrates its first five years, rumour and speculation abound that the world's largest online auctioneer may merge with ecommerce retailer Amazon.com.  29 Sep 2000

Ebusiness patent mocks US system

The US patent system was branded a joke this week after it was revealed that a fashion designer made an undisclosed sum from clothing websites with a general ebusiness system and method for fashion shopping.  07 Sep 2000

BT hyperlink patent ridiculed but real

US patent law condemned as BT seeks substantial gain from hyperlink 'invention'.  10 Jul 2000

BT seeks cash from hyperlink users in the US

BT has said it wants US Internet service providers to pay for their customers' rights to use hyperlinks in Web sites, because the British telco claims that it invented them.  29 Jun 2000

Backbone - Internet property isn't patently clear

The US Patent Office may be signing away the fundamental ideas of the internet because it doesn't have the resources to check applications.  20 Feb 1999

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