Online booksellers end patent feud

Amazon.com has agreed a settlement in its patent infringement suit against Barnes&Noble.com over its 1-Click online checkout system.

A secret agreement between the two booksellers in a US district court ends the three-year dispute between the ecommerce rivals.

Amazon.com sued Barnes&Noble.com in October 1999 claiming that the latter copied the 1-Click system which speeds up the online checkout process by allowing customers to skip several steps with pre-set credit card and shipping information.

The case sparked controversy about the 1-Click system, as many believed that the US patent was too wide.

Ironically, Amazon.com agreed and called for patent reform. It even went on to sponsor an organisation that investigates dubious patent claims.

But that did not stop it fighting and winning an injunction against Barnes&Noble.com's use of the feature in December 1999.

It is unclear whether Barnes&Noble.com paid to settle the suit, or whether it will license Amazon's technology.