Scientific journals are threatening to sue inventors and law firms over the academic studies that are part of a typical patent application. Now, in an unusual memo, the US Patent Office has suggested that inventors can disregard the warning.
Apple Hit With Playlist Patent, Suit Filed By Former Judge’s Firm
A Texas shell company, Smart Audio Technologies, has filed a suit claiming Apple’s iPod Nano and other devices violate its patent for random song playlists.
ITC Said To Favor Barnes & Noble In Patent Dispute With Microsoft
For the most part, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) has found the mobile industry willing to bow to its patent-licensing strategy. Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS) decided to dig in and fight and it could be poised to score a point.
Apple v. Moto In Germany: One iPhone Injunction Ordered, Another One Lifted
Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) in the last 24 hours has been dealt not one but two blows in court cases involving Motorola (NYSE: MMI) and patents in Germany, one involving IP licensing on older iPhone models (not the 4S) and one involving iCloud. However, as the day progressed, an injunction on the...
Myriad Eyes Synchronica, Says Messaging Company Can’t Pay Its Nokia Debt
Some fallout from the various asset offloads we have seen from Nokia (NYSE: NOK) in the last year: Synchronica, which bought Nokia’s messaging business for $25 million in June 2011, has itself become a takeover target—apparently because it will not be able to make payments...
Motorola Adds iPhone 4S, iCloud, To List Of Products It Says Hit Patents
The smartphone patent wars may never end. Motorola (NYSE: MMI) fired a round Wednesday with a new lawsuit against Apple (NSDQ: AAPL), declaring that the iPhone 4S and iCloud infringe its patents and creating another venue in which the iOS versus Android argument can take place.
Motorola Wins A Round In Mobile Patent War Against Apple
Chalk one up for Motorola (NYSE: MMI) and Android: the International Trade Commission has determined that it doesn’t violate any of the patents asserted by Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) in its case against the company Google (NSDQ: GOOG) hopes to buy for patent protection.
Has RIM Hired Goldman Sachs To Explore A Merger Or Sale?
BlackBerry maker RIM’s official line has been that it is not for sale, but this week, persistent rumors that it could get bought anyway got another fillip, in the form of a report that the handset maker has hired Goldman Sachs to advise it.
New Patent Suits Target Starbucks, Expedia Mobile Payments
In a possible sign of trouble for the booming mobile payment industry, a semiconductor firm filed patent lawsuits against Starbucks (NSDQ: SBUX), Expedia and Capital One over applications like “Starbucks for iPhone.”
The Razr Ain’t Cutting It: Motorola Mobility To Fall Short On Q4
Not brilliant news for Motorola (NYSE: MMI) Mobility and its would-be buyer, Google: the handset maker today issued preliminary Q4 results that will fall short of market expectations, citing competition from other handset makers and costs related to patent litigation.
When Playing Defense, Apple Willing To Settle Patent Disputes
Apple’s aggressive mobile patent strategy is apparently reserved for its offensive maneuvers. It has agreed to settle a patent lawsuit brought by Elan Microelectronics for $5 million and a cross-licensing agreement, according to a report.
TiVo Nets At Least $215 Million From AT&T Patent Settlement
Set-top box maker TiVo (NSDQ: TIVO) announced today that it would rake in hundreds of millions from licensing three of its patents to AT&T (NYSE: T). The deal is a coup for the recordable TV pioneer and could presage more licensing deals in the near future.
