Category Archives: Suits

Apple And Google Purportedly Teaming Up For $500M-Plus Bid On Kodak Patents

After Kodak stated it was going out of business, it was time to get a green light for them to off their library of 1,100 digital imaging patents. Apple and Google were willing and ready to jump into the fry and secure some of the swag bags, but as Bloomberg reports, there are sources reporting that both companies may actually start working together to secure patents from the sale. In fact, they’re in a $500 million-plus bid for the patents. All three factions are remaining quiet about this — for now. And perhaps this may also dig Kodak out of bankruptcy? Or, maybe not.

[Image credit: Viktor Nagornyy, Flickr]

Via: Bloomberg

HTC and Apple kiss and make up: enter licensing deal for 10-years

There goes any hopes of intense patent war between HTC and Apple. There’s just a nice little legal notice that popped up on everyone’s screen today, referencing a court deal between both companies: lifting all existing patent disputes, and agreeing to a 10-year licensing deal for all patents disputed, and any new patents that may be created in that time span.

Both CEOs of the multi-million dollar consumer technology companies have issued statements about the agreement:

“HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC.

“We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC,” said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. “We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation. 

So from now on we can only get our technology patent disputes from Apple and Samsung? Aww, no fair. On a serious note though, this is good news.

Via: Apple

Apple Publishes Apology To Samsung For Patent Infringement Case, Per UK Court’s Order

This is — interesting. Apple, per a UK court order, has had to issue an online apology to Samsung for the Galaxy Tab vs. iPad patent infringement case. In the United States, Apple won, but in the United Kingdom, it’s very different: an apology, while delicately manicured to offer no sign of weakness, while telling the truth of the situation, according to the appeals court thought it so. Other European countries (namely Germany, for example), didn’t share the UK’s position with Apple and Samsung. The full statement can be read, after the break.

Via: Apple
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The Verdict On Samsung Vs. Apple Is Here: Apple Wins

In the gripping conclusion to the long Apple vs. Samsung case, the technology giant Apple has won as according to a court jury and Judge Koh. What else is there to report on? There always is more. Apparently, this means that all nearly all recent Android-based Samsung devices in question have infringed upon the Apple scroll/”bounce back” patent, among two other Apple patents in question. Apple has won this trial.

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Mojang gets sued for ‘Minecraft’ patent infringement

It seems to be a patent troll case from the likes of Uniloc, which claims it is the exclusive license-holder of patent ’067, a “system and method for preventing unauthorized access to electronic data,” said to be infringed upon in Mojang’s Android version of Minecraft, a game which was created by the famous Markus ‘Notch’ Persson. How exactly is Mojang supposedly infringing on the patent? Purportedly, “by or through making, using, offering for sale, selling and/or importing Android based applications for use on cellular phones and/or tablet devices that require communication with a server to perform a license check to prevent the unauthorized use of said application, including, but not limited to, Minecraft“.

Notch isn’t so easily swayed in such legal situations: ”Unfortunately for them, they’re suing us over a software patent. If needed, I will throw piles of money at making sure they don’t get a cent.”

And for proof of Uniloc being a patent troll, they’re also suing Halfbrick, creators of both Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, Gameloft, Square Enix, X-Plane creator Laminar Research, and Electronic Arts.

Via: Eurogamer

UK Judge says Galaxy Tab design ‘not as cool’ as iPad, so it does not infringe it

You have to love the High Court of Justice’s Chancery Division. Today it ruled that the Galaxy Tab does not infringe upon the iPad’s design. In fact, UK Judge Colin Biriss said that Galaxy Tab models “do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design,” continuing with the rather entertaining claim that “they are not as cool.” He also went on to say that “the view from the front is really very striking. The Galaxy tablets are not identical to the Apple design but they are very, very similar in this respect.” However, differences in the styling of the backs of the tablets and “the thinness of the Galaxy tablets” overcame all other similarities.

It’s a timely and earned victory for Samsung in the UK, considering that in the United States the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was served an injunction, despite sharing identical characteristics between the American and United Kingdom models.

ViaUK HIGH COURT RULING (BAILII)BLOOMBERG

Galaxy Nexus Pulled From Google Play Store

The deed has been done by the courts and Apple has posted the $96 million bond for the injunction ruled by Judge Koh on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Essentially, it is being struck down and killed due to the fact that it infringes upon one (in some cases, two) patents. Samsung is fighting all over this one, and purportedly Google plans to send out a software that can nullify the charges, but so far they were too late; the Galaxy Nexus has since been pulled from the Google Play Store. And, that leaves the new best Android phone on the market: the Samsung Galaxy S III. Via: Le Verge

Apple Won A Preliminary Injunction Against The Galaxy Nexus, Due To Two Patents

Once again, U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh ruled in favor of Apple, landing a preliminary injunction for the sales of the Galaxy Nexus in the United States. The two patents mostly responsible for the ruling against Samsung pertained to the “slide to unlock” feature, as well as certain methods of searching. As Judge Koh argues in her ruling:

Although Samsung will necessarily be harmed by being forced to withdraw its product from the market before the merits can be determined after a full trial, the harm faced by Apple absent an injunction is greater. Apple’s interest in enforcing its patent rights is particularly strong because it has presented a strong case on the merits. As discussed above, Apple has shown a likelihood of prevailing on the merits of all four of its asserted patents. Apple has further shown a likelihood of irreparable harm attributable to Samsung’s infringement of the ’604 Patent if the injunction does not issue. Samsung, by contrast, does not present any evidence of what hardship it will suffer if the injunction issues.

Since this is Google’s flagship smartphone and one of Samsung’s greatest achievements in the Android era, no doubt the manufacturer will be appealing the decision. And as such, another round of arguments will begin in the saga that is Samsung infringing upon Apple’s patents, so the court continues to say.

ViaAll Things DEngadget

Apple wins preliminary injunction against Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales in the States


So, thi sis a first for Apple in the United States. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh late Tuesday issued a ruling, granting the injunction of the original Galaxy Tab 10.1 and its sales in the United States, pending further review. What this means for Samsung is that the damage has already been done, and now it’s time to defend, then jump to offense. Furthermore, Judge Koh went on to say that, “Although Samsung has a right to compete, it does not have a right to compete unfairly by flooding the market with infringing products.”

Let’s see how far this one rolls out. Via: AllThingsD

Yahoo! Sues Facebook For Patent Infringement, In Almost Every Form

In the recent shakeup at Yahoo!, management has been evaluated over and over again. In this particular lawsuit, Yahoo! is suing Facebook in patent infringements left and right, and that the 10 infringed patents include privacy measures to messaging, social networking in itself, the News Feed, user profiles, and its advertising methods. The real question here is if Yahoo! will win its case — in which none of us can give a very clear answer. However, Yahoo! seems very confident, stating that it is ”compelled to seek redress in federal court,” and adding that it’s “confident” it will prevail. Hmph.

On the flipside of things, Facebook says that it is “disappointed that Yahoo’s effort to engage with us was limited to a few short phone calls and that we continue to learn of new developments about a long-time partner through the press,” adding that “we will defend ourselves vigorously against these puzzling actions.” The usual friendly jargon used to ensure nothing wrong is said, yet nothing too right is said, either. Via: AllThingsD

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