Tim Bray noted that IBM is suing Amazon for patent infringement. While the titles of IBM's patents are broad and there are implications for the Internet as a whole, at least in the United States, I can't help but be amused. Amazon is infamous for enforcing some of their own ridiculous patents, such as their "1-click patent." In some sense, it serves them right to get a taste of their own medicine. That said, while I can see the theoretical value of software patents, and some seem valid, for the most part I see them doing more harm than good. The system seems to be in need of some changes and improvements, but I don't see how that can happen. It is a fairly depressing state of affairs.