[amsilprotag]

From the end of the article:

As for the one-click payment system that helped build both their online stores, the US patent to that expired in September 2017.

I could understand allowing a months-long patent of this kind, but 18 years seems about an order of magnitude too long.

[peapicker]

It take 5-7 years just to get a patent at the moment, the patent system is so backed up. (personal experience, I have 2 and have 4 more in the process)...

[duxup]

I really like your idea of months long, but I would fear a situation where with so many things in patents if you allowed months long patents, there would quickly be some legislation that turns it into years ;)