Amazon hits back at IBM over patents

Transparent litigation ploy: From my dealings with Oracle, Amazon apparently has long used IBM's Websphere tools in building its Online foundation, in spite of using Oracle's DBMS. Of course I can not confirm that Amazon.com uses either Oracle or Websphere as tools. These are trade secrets.

Nonetheless, it is fairly well recognized in Seattle, that Amazon.com does not use Microsoft tools or technology or at least avoids them. Most often I am told that Amazon is an Oracle and Websphere shop. The article pretty much confirms the later as fact.

IBM is responsible in part for Sears' failure in being like Amazon. IBM and Sears were building online catalog order and distribution systems at least 5 years before Amazon.com found its way to Seattle. It was all DB/2 as I remember and while the Sears system works even today it is rarely viewed as a best practice kind of shop.

This battle over patents could be nothing more than a battle for free press coverage. I just do not see IBM and Amazon as enemies. They are more like innovators who by combining efforts have changed retail forever. If the litigation goes forward it is likely that Microsoft friendly E-bay will be harmed more than IBM will harm Amazon or vise versa. If the litigation does not go forward then the wind is sucked out of any similar litigation that Microsoft may have had in mind.; Posted by: mighetto Posted on: 12/15/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use