and the frivolous patent infringement lawsuit award of this week goes to … drumroll, please … Digitude Innovations, suing RIM, LG, Sony, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, HTC, and Amazon.
Digitude, an IP licensing company based in Alexandria, Virginia, just sued RIM, LG, Sony, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, HTC, and Amazon over the infringement of four of its patents:
Amazon got sued just over the following patent:
5,926,636: Remote Procedure Call Component Management Method for a Heterogeneous Computer Network
All others were sued additionally for alleged infringed of the patents below:
5,929,655: Dual-Purpose I/O Circuit in a Combined LINK/PHY Integrated Circuit
6,208,879: Mobile Information Terminal Equipment and Portable Electronic Apparatus
6,456,841: Mobile Communication Apparatus Notifying User of Reproduction Waiting Information Effectively
As it is the case so often, Digitude was not the inventor behind these patents, but took ownership just two weeks ago. Two of the patents were originally assigned to Adaptec, one to Mitsubishi and one to Apple. It appears that all four patents are part of a patent package Digitude announced to have acquired in June of this year. The company claims that it owns more than 550 patents, all of which are in the areas of PC and consumer mobile devices, computer peripherals and communications services.
Earlier this year, Digitude announced its intentions to monetize patents via an "innovative patent monetization model, where the company will acquire, aggregate, and license key technology areas in a patent consortium through strategic partnerships." The company hired several litigation lawyers "in anticipation of launching our licensing programs." It appears that RIM, LG, Sony, Samsung, Nokia Motorola, HTC, and Amazon are the first ones to 'experience' Digitude's innovative licensing program.
...they're outsourcing.
#inb4lawsuit for touch screens
I thought that was Apple's job.
#inb4lawsuit for touch screens
http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm
5,926,636 - February 21, 1996 - Adaptec
5,929,655 - March 25, 1997 - Adaptec
6,208,879 - March 8, 1999 - Mitsubishi
6,456,841 - June 1, 1999 - Mitsubishi
I thought that was Apple's job.
...they're outsourcing.
Damn I thought this was another Apple article.
Ummm....the title of this piece implies that Digitude has already won.
Digitude has to prove that a previous licensing agreement didn't exist between Adaptec, Mitsubishi, Apple and the "defendants" at any point in time during which they're claiming patent infringement took place. Seeing as how Adaptec and Mitsubishi are both pretty open about licensing their IP to other companies....I don't see much chance in Digitude winning this.
It's already been done.
"Mobile Information Terminal Equipment and Portable Electronic Apparatus" includes all wireless portables right - laptops, netbooks, ultrabooks, tablets, smartphones, etc? Doesn't that make this a nuisance patent... or whatever they call it.