Report: Amazon’s 1-Click patent runs its course

A patent that changed how customers make purchases online has expired — and opened up new opportunities for competitors.



The “1-Click” patent filed by Amazon in 1997, expired Tuesday. As a result, any brand can now feature this functionality on their own e-commerce site, according to C-Net.



The patent, which was granted in 1999, allowed customers to make purchases with the online giant using just one click. Besides being an early step in streamlining the online shopping experience, the patent also gave Amazon a leg up over competitors that had more cumbersome checkout processes.



Once the patent expires, any competitor is entitled to offer the purchasing option without being subject to paying licensing fees to Amazon. It will also drive a more consistent experience industry-wide, the report said.



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