Operator glossary
APEX (patent neutral evaluation)
Amazon's private patent court — a neutral attorney evaluates your utility-patent claim against an accused listing, each side posts $4,000, loser's deposit funds the process — verdicts in weeks, not years.
APEX (Amazon Patent Evaluation Express) shortcuts federal litigation: the patent owner identifies one claim of a US utility patent and accused ASINs; if the seller opts to defend, both sides deposit $4,000 and brief a neutral evaluator, who decides likely infringement. Losing side forfeits the deposit; winning side is refunded. Sellers who decline to participate get delisted by default.
For patent holders it is the cheapest enforcement in existence — weeks and $4,000 risk versus years and six figures in district court. For accused sellers, the calculus is stark: a defensible position is worth the deposit; a weak one means the listing dies either way. Design patents and trademark claims route through other lanes; APEX is utility-only.
The numbers
- Mechanics: one utility-patent claim vs. accused ASINs → both sides deposit $4,000 → neutral attorney decides in weeks.
- Non-participating accused sellers are delisted by default; winner's deposit refunds, loser's funds the evaluation.
- Utility patents only — design patents and trademarks use other channels.
Related terms