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Telstra scores patent win over Amazon

Telstra has won a marathon court battle against Amazon in a Canberra patents court over the legitimacy of its "1-click buy" patent, a method of purchase that speeds up customer transactions.
Written by Luke Hopewell, Contributor

Telstra has won a marathon court battle against Amazon in a Canberra patents court over the legitimacy of its "1-click buy" patent, a method of purchase that speeds up customer transactions.

Amazon.com

(Credit: Luke Hopewell/ZDNet Australia)

Amazon's 1-click buy facility speeds up transactions by using pre-filled payment and shipping information to avoid a customer re-entering this information for every purchase.

The delegate of the Commissioner of Patents, Ed Knock, found this week that Amazon's 1-click buy facility "lacks novelty [and] an inventive step", making Amazon's claim unpatentable.

Amazon's patent application included 141 claims, 60 of which were deemed invalid by the court. To be successful, a patent must not contain any invalid claims.

Knock acknowledged, however, that Amazon's patent application did include some original material and granted the online retailer 60 days to amend the application in compliance with patent regulations.

"If suitable amendments are not proposed within that time, I will refuse the application," he added.

Telstra told ZDNet Australia in a statement that it welcomes the decision.

"Telstra is very pleased that its opposition to registration of Amazon's patent was successful and that costs were awarded against Amazon," it said in a statement.

"Amazon's patent application now cannot be granted unless Amazon applies to successfully amend or narrow the scope of its application," the telco added.

ZDNet Australia contacted Amazon for comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Amazon has been ordered to pay Telstra's legal costs in the matter.

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