BUSINESS BRIEFING / COURTS

Amazon.com Inc. has sued Animal Planet TV channel operator Discovery Communications Inc. over patents for a way to conduct searches on Internet shopping sites.

In the suit filed May 15 in federal court in Amazon’s hometown of Seattle, the online retailer contends that Discovery’s online store is infringing four patents related to ways consumers refine searches for products or get recommendations based on prior purchases.

Amazon is seeking a court order to block further use of the inventions, plus cash compensation.