[link|http://news.com.com/Amazon+pays+40+million+to+settle+patent+dispute/2100-1030_3-5829193.html?tag=nefd.top|http://news.com.com/...html?tag=nefd.top]

Patty Smith, an Amazon spokeswoman, said Amazon reached a settlement in order to avoid the expense that would come with protracted litigation. It was also in the best interest of the company's shareholders, she added. She noted that the company continues to deny any and all wrongdoing cited in the case.

Soverain had alleged that Amazon and Gap infringed on five of its patents covering "core" aspects of e-commerce technology.

[...]

One patent allows e-commerce merchants to recognize a customer when he or she makes multiple inquiries on a Web site during a shopping session or when the person later returns to the site, according to court documents.

One-click, anyone?