OpenTV says 1-Click this!

Amazon challenged again over its pride and joy

By Linda Harrison in New York • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 14th October 2000 08:38 GMT

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E-tail giant Amazon.com has a fresh challenger to the ownership of the prized 1-Click system.

A US interactive TV company believes it invented the technology, which stores information so users do not have to re-enter personal details when visiting sites, and intents to get the patent.

Today OpenTV announced it recently filed an application to broaden the scope of one of its patents to include 1-Click shopping for set top boxes at the US Patent and Trademark Office.

"We believe the U.S. patent (5,819,034) clearly describes single interaction shopping in client/server and interactive television environments," said Craig Opperman, OpenTV chief intellectual property officer.

The patent filing from California-based OpenTV will cause waves at Amazon because it predates its own 1-Click patent - which it is currently scrapping over with Barnes & Noble - by three years.

Thanks to this early filing date and the publication of the European equivalent patent application, "Amazon could be precluded from using its patent against anyone practicing what is taught in our patent," said Opperman.

Last October Amazon decided to sue Barnes & Noble over allegedly copying the 1-Click invention - to which Amazon won the patent on September 28. Although it did win a preliminary injunction against Barnes & Noble, the spat is still raging.

Apple recently became the first company to license the 1-Click technology from Amazon to use on its Apple Store. ®