IBM has buried the hatchet in its patent spat with Amazon in exchange for a wodge of cash and a cross license agreement.

Big Blue kicked off the case last October, accusing the online warehouse of "willfully" violating IBM patents covering "such services as allowing users to order items from an electronic catalog and displaying internet advertising".

And yes, that does sound fairly close to claiming IBM has patents on virtually the entire concept of ecommerce.

Amazon is no stranger to patent litigation – just look at its long pursuit of companies it claims have infringed its controversial one click ordering patent.

In this instance, though, Amazon has decided discretion is the better part of valour.

For IBM’s part, general manager of software IP, Dan Ceruti, said in a statement, “We’re pleased this matter has been resolved through negotiation and licensing. We look forward to a more productive relationship with Amazon in the future.®

Related stories

Amazon narrows patent after 1-Click reverse (23 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/23/amazon_oneclick_gets_real/
IBM patents making money from patents (24 October 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/24/ibm_patents_patents/
US Patent Office decimates Amazon's 1-Click Patent (17 October 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/17/amazon_1-click_patent_ruling/
IBM drops attempt to patent outsourcing (5 October 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/05/ibm_patent_outsourcing_slashdot/
Humane Society gets firmer with Amazon's cocks (8 June 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/08/human_society_sharpens_amazon-cockfighting_suit/
UK firms contest 'absurd' software patent ruling (29 May 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/29/legal_patent_challenge/
Amazon 'misled Congress' over 1-Click patent (15 May 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/15/amazon_patent_congress_porky/
Amazon.com snaps up Dpreview.com (15 May 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/15/amazon_buys_dpreview/
Big Blue puts power-guzzling data centres on a diet (10 May 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/10/big_blue_power_diet/
Patent damages not refunded if EPO cancels patent (10 May 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/10/patent_damages_not_refunded/
IBM wades into Amazon for patent infringement (23 October 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/23/ibm_versus_amazon/
IBM's 'secret island' (21 September 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/21/ibm_secret/