Eleven companies filed patent lawsuits against Amazon since the start of the year, it has been confirmed.
This, Amazon said, is more than three times as many as in all of 2010.
According to the claims, Amazon's sales systems infringe another firm's intellectual property, while it has also been suggested that its Kindle ebook devices use technologies owned by two others.
However, Amazon has contested the accusations, confirming that it intends to "vigorously defend" itself.
Reflecting on the claims, Andrea Matwyshyn, assistant professor of legal studies at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, said: "It is quite common in the technology industry to have aggressive patent litigation."
He added: "In fact, the volume against Amazon pales compared to other industries such as the mobile phone sector, which is involved in a series of patent wars."
Earlier this week, Amazon announced that heavy investment in the Kindle tablet computer has seen profits drop 73 per cent.
Posted by Andre Dixon
This, Amazon said, is more than three times as many as in all of 2010.
According to the claims, Amazon's sales systems infringe another firm's intellectual property, while it has also been suggested that its Kindle ebook devices use technologies owned by two others.
However, Amazon has contested the accusations, confirming that it intends to "vigorously defend" itself.
Reflecting on the claims, Andrea Matwyshyn, assistant professor of legal studies at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, said: "It is quite common in the technology industry to have aggressive patent litigation."
He added: "In fact, the volume against Amazon pales compared to other industries such as the mobile phone sector, which is involved in a series of patent wars."
Earlier this week, Amazon announced that heavy investment in the Kindle tablet computer has seen profits drop 73 per cent.
Posted by Andre Dixon