Each year, International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) spends about $6 billion on R&D. It not only allows the company to launch better products -- but is also a source of licensing revenues. And the occasional lawsuit, such as the one filed against Amazon.com. The amount? Like most of these kinds of suits, it is unspecified. IBM's suit covers five patents, which cover things like storage, customer recommendations and other common features that any e-commerce company would provide.

Interestingly enough, IBM filed its case in Texas, which tends to be favorable to patent-holders. But, one thing is certain: patent litigation is time-consuming. So, unless there is a settlement (which does not seem like something Amazon.com likes to do), expect this case to continue for several years.

And, as seen with the stock price of Amazon.com, investors seem blissfully unconcerned. The stock is up this morning after the news by 24 cents to $32.81.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and operates InvestorOffering.com.

In a move reminiscent of the tobacco lawsuits against Philip Morris years ago, the State of California has sued General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE: TM), Daimler Chrysler AG (NYSE: DCX), Honda Motor Co. Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: HMC) and Nissan Motor Co. The theory is that the car companies created a "public nuisance" that will cost the state in infrastructure and health expenses. What the state will seek in damages is not clear.

At first blush, it would appear that these claims would eventually be no more successful than the smokers' suits were. The state had the power to set emissions standards or even to ban the sale of cars by manufacturers that built cars that did not fit criteria set by the state. Since the California legislature never took those steps, it will probably be difficult to claim monetary awards to offset the state's costs.

It is also likely that the issue of whether the cars accounted for all of the health and structural damage would be difficult to prove. Factories and other sources can also be tagged for producing toxic gas.

What the suit does do is open a Pandora's box of legal costs for the car companies, especially if other states follow California's lead. As Altria and other tobacco companies discovered, even winning cases can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. There was a time when Altria's legal costs were over $1 million a day.

Even if the car companies win against claims like those that have been brought by California, they could lose. The industry is not in any shape to shoulder that distraction or costs of litigation across a number of states.

Douglas McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.