NTP shows fall 2007 lawsuit fashions, sues AT&T, Sprint, Verizon
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Sep 11th 2007 2:47PM
posted Sep 11th 2007 2:47PM
Remember those crazy sons of guns at patent holding firm NTP that ended up working RIM for a shade over $612 million? They're back at it, throwing lawsuits at AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon -- that's three of the States' four national carriers, in case you're keeping count -- for alleged infringements of eight patents involving mobile email. The firm seems to be something of a one-trick pony seeing how mobile email was the issue at hand with RIM and later with Palm; for a company that does nothing but sue other companies, two-thirds of a billion dollars seems like a plenty healthy bank account, but heck, what do we know? At this point, we're assuming that once they're done suing every company that's ever offered, used, or mentioned "mobile" and "email" in the same sentence, we'll finally be able to put this issue to rest -- but until that day comes, watch your back, folks, because NTP's back on the prowl.Update: Silly us for thinking NTP wouldn't just go ahead and make it a nice, round four! T-Mobile's been caught up in the suit, too, with its Sidekick services specifically called out (among others) for infringement of NTP's email patents.
[Via Phone Scoop]
Phonescoop is reporting all 4 carriers in the suit! :|
I guess Alltel isn't big enough to be included.
Mr. Ziegler,
I just got done reading your article on NTP....
do you have a total disdain for someone that invents a patent and tries to be paid for that invention...
I could not believe your comment about NTP...
Why is it you can't face facts...RIMM PAID NTP because RIMM was INFINGING on their patent...do you understand what infringement is? Would RIMM have paid the $600M if they weren't using this patent? DUH....
so why shouldn't they sue the other companies for using and stealing their invention without being compensated...
If you were smart enough to invent something wouldn't you want to be compensated for it?
Why is it ok for these manufacturers to constantly steal technology in order to sell their mobile phones to make millions, but not ok for the inventor to get compensated for the same invention?
Are you a socialist or do you think it's ok to steal? if so, do you go to the store and walk out with your groceries and not pay for them?
Nokia has been infringing on Interdigitals patents since it started making mobile phones...after ten years of fighting, Interdigital finally got paid $253M for Nokia's sales for 2g after two BINDIN ARBITRATIONS and THREE APPEALS by NOKIA...
they make approximately 21% margins on their mobile phones, but can't pay a royalty rate to a company that is allowing them to make BILLIONS while using their technology...
Nokia stole 2g for ten years....they are now stealing the 3g technology that Interdigital invented...Nokia is now forcing IDCC to sue them for infringement with the ITC...
By the way, Samsung has taken the same path...no payment for 2g for ten years, yet even after a BINDING arbitration ruled in favor of IDCC over 2 years ago for approximately $200M, they still refuse to pay...a judge in NY has yet to rule on the ruling for over a year...
yesterday, a new judge was assigned the docket...
Samsung continues to infringe on IDCC's 3g technology and won't sign a 3g agreement just like Nokia...yet it sells 200,000 3g Blackjack's a month...
Do you really not appreciate the entreprenurial spirit of the American people....would you be the same writer that would be uspet with the Chinese stealing American IPR? if so, why is it ok for Nokia, Samsung and others?
i look forward to a response from you...
bglad14@cox.net
Some patents are total bullshit thats why!
It should be required to ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR PATENT within a certain timeframe if you want ot keep it. It is not fair to think up of a bunch of things, have no means to make them, do not sell them or do ANYTHING with them until some other company starts offering what you "invented" (but all you did was think of it) and start suing!
>>Would RIMM have paid the $600M if they weren't using this patent?
Interesting. I was looking for some NTP affiliation signature, like, "CEO NTP" or "NTP says: A law suit a day, keeps the debtors at bay!"
If you don't work for NTP, I believe you have some real "fanboi syndrome." I think Engadget may have its first--and only-- NTP fanboi.
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Firstly, why do people keep picking on Chris? I mean, c'mon, no matter what he says, people always point out something wrong with what he says. It's his opinion and he is entitled to it, and, in this case especially, nearly everyone agrees.
Secondly, you asked if he had a problem with patents. His having a problem with patents would imply he has a problem with intellectual properties, something that clearly isn't the case. In fact, I doubt that any editor of any online blog or publication has a lack of appreciation for ownership of intellectual properties or patents, for that matter.
Thirdly, you called him a socialist. I mean seriously, THIS IS CELL PHONE SITE, you know, where people take pride in *owning* their exclusive handsets (this is where iPhone users chime in, LOL) as well as voicing their opinions about them.
Overall, this dislike of the NTP does not boil down to a matter of respect for patents or not, it boils down to the use of the legal system as a source of income.
Can someone please deliver a nice, loud bitchslap to these trolls in court and get it over with?
>>Would RIMM have paid the $600M if they weren't using this patent?
If it were cheaper than having to pay lawyers, court costs and negative PR over a period of several years? Uh...yeah.