Doesn’t mean much to end users, but this is still a big news, to me at least. NTP is a small technology company with a portfolio of dozen of patents. This including wireless email technology that harvested them a $612 million settlement out of RIM in 2006 after couple of years of litigation on court. Well the company is ready to set cruise control for a sweet ride over to the court again, as it’s suing nearly everyone from Silicon Valley, and around. Apple, Google, Microsoft, HTC, LG, and Motorola is getting sued for the same wireless email technology patent that cost RIM over half a billion dollars. That’s a huge load of money, and they’re getting ready to times it by a half a dozen at least.
The RIM case alone took nearly five years and ultimately involved USPTO re-examining several patents, rejecting some and then ultimately declaring some others valid in 2009. This surely won’t end swiftly and with ease. But we’ll be seeing some interesting things down this path. Apple and Microsoft have always have a history of cooperation and cross-licensing in the patent space, and thus I’m sure their lawyers would be having some fine lunch and gags before heading down lawsuit town. That’s yet to include the mammoth Google, and the Taiwanese handheld specialist HTC, the Korean electronics giant LG, and the pioneer in mobile phones Motorola. What a party!
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