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Difference between revisions of "Phone patent litigation"

(Lawsuits filed: * NTP v. RIM (2000, USA), settled in 2006 for US$612.5 million, this case may have inspired later cases)
(* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone_patent_wars Smartphone patent wars], '''Wikipedia''')
 
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The volume of [[litigation]] between developers of third-generation phone-computers exploded in 2010.
In 2010, there was an explosion of [[litigation]] between companies developing third-generation mobile phones.
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'''Note:''' These cases are usually a mix of hardware patents and software patents.  Distinguishing the two can be time-consuming, so it's possible that this page (and this wiki) erroneously lists some litigation about hardware patents (which are of no interest to this wiki).  Help and review is very welcome.
  
 
As well as filing litigation in the courts, many cases were filed with the [[United States International Trade Commission]] to block imports and exports.  No such blocks have yet been put in place (as of August 2010).
 
As well as filing litigation in the courts, many cases were filed with the [[United States International Trade Commission]] to block imports and exports.  No such blocks have yet been put in place (as of August 2010).
  
As well as filing a lawsuit, many patent holders also file a complaint with the [[United States International Trade Commission]] to ban the import of the product in question.
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==Why so much litigation?==
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Some factors are obvious: high-tech phones are a new, growing market.
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Another factor might be that this new market mixes together software and hardware companies that haven't dealt with each other directly before.  For this reason, the companies involved don't have existing [[patent non-aggression pacts]] with each other.
  
 
==Lawsuits filed==
 
==Lawsuits filed==
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Just a selection.  More can be found among the general list at [[List of lawsuits]].
  
 
Oldest first:
 
Oldest first:
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* [[NTP v. RIM (2000, USA)]], settled in 2006 for US$612.5 million, this case may have inspired later cases
 
* [[NTP v. RIM (2000, USA)]], settled in 2006 for US$612.5 million, this case may have inspired later cases
 
* [[Apple v. HTC (2010, USA)|Apple v. HTC]], early 2010
 
* [[Apple v. HTC (2010, USA)|Apple v. HTC]], early 2010
** Plus a [[HTC]] v. Apple counter suit, May 2010
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** (Plus counter suit in May 2010)
* [[Nokia v. Apple (2010, USA)|Nokia v. Apple]], 2010
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* [[Nokia v. Apple (2010, USA)|Nokia v. Apple]], 2010-2011
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** Settled June 2011 with Apple paying a one time amount and ongoing royalties to Nokia.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110614-702424.html Nokia And Apple Settle Patent Litigation], WSJ</ref>
 
* [[Eric Gould Bear v. Apple (2010, USA)|Eric Gould Bear v. Apple]], May 2010
 
* [[Eric Gould Bear v. Apple (2010, USA)|Eric Gould Bear v. Apple]], May 2010
 
* [[Oracle v. Google (2010, USA)|Oracle v. Google]], August 2010
 
* [[Oracle v. Google (2010, USA)|Oracle v. Google]], August 2010
 
* [[Microsoft v. Motorola (2010, USA)|Microsoft v. Motorola]], October 2010
 
* [[Microsoft v. Motorola (2010, USA)|Microsoft v. Motorola]], October 2010
* [[Motorola v. Apple (2010, USA)]]<ref>http://mediacenter.motorola.com/Press-Releases/Motorola-Mobility-Sues-Apple-for-Patent-Infringement-344d.aspx</ref>
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** (Plus counter suit on 11 November 2010)
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* [[Motorola v. Apple (2010, USA)]]
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** (Plus counter-suit on 30 Oct 2010)
 
* No law suit, but HTC pays fees to Microsoft.<ref>http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/10/03/ballmer-android-aint-free-microsoft-gets-paid/</ref>
 
* No law suit, but HTC pays fees to Microsoft.<ref>http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/10/03/ballmer-android-aint-free-microsoft-gets-paid/</ref>
 
* [[Gemalto v. phone manufacturers (2010, USA)]]
 
* [[Gemalto v. phone manufacturers (2010, USA)]]
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* [[Samsung v. Apple lawsuits worldwide overview]]
  
 
==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}==
 
==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}==
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* [[Blocks competing software, reducing choice]]
 
* [[Blocks competing software, reducing choice]]
 
* [[GSM]] - patents prevent computers from making phonecalls
 
* [[GSM]] - patents prevent computers from making phonecalls
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* [[Lodsys]]
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* [[Software distributors paying Microsoft patent tax]]
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* [[Florian Mueller]] writes extensively about this
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
  
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone_patent_wars Smartphone patent wars], '''Wikipedia'''
 
* [http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/what-the-mobile-patent-fight-all-about-117 What the mobile patent fight is all about], 3 May 2010, '''InfoWorld'''
 
* [http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/what-the-mobile-patent-fight-all-about-117 What the mobile patent fight is all about], 3 May 2010, '''InfoWorld'''
 
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/15/yet_another_patent_case_against_apple/ Bear and Monkey smack Apple with patent suit], 15 May 2010, '''The Register'''
 
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/15/yet_another_patent_case_against_apple/ Bear and Monkey smack Apple with patent suit], 15 May 2010, '''The Register'''
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* [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20100828132209651 A Bird's Eye View of the HTC/Nokia/Apple Patent Litigations], 29 Aug 2010, '''[[Groklaw]]'''
 
* [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20100828132209651 A Bird's Eye View of the HTC/Nokia/Apple Patent Litigations], 29 Aug 2010, '''[[Groklaw]]'''
 
* [http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2010/10/android-caught-in-crossfire-of-patents.html Android caught in a crossfire of patents], 3 Oct 2010, by '''[[Florian Mueller]]'''
 
* [http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2010/10/android-caught-in-crossfire-of-patents.html Android caught in a crossfire of patents], 3 Oct 2010, by '''[[Florian Mueller]]'''
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* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/may/13/apple-iphone-developers-app Apple iPhone app developers hit by patent claims], 13 May 2011, '''Guardian'''
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* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/may/18/app-developers-sued-over-patent-claims More app developers sued over patent claims], 18 May 2011, '''Guardian'''
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* [http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/20/apple-takes-one-small-step-against-htc-one-giant-leap-against-android/ Apple Takes One Small Step Against HTC, One Giant Leap Against Android], 20 Dec 2011, '''techcrunch'''
  
 
===Diagrams of all the litigation===
 
===Diagrams of all the litigation===
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{{footer}}
 
{{footer}}
 
[[Category: Example software patents]]
 
[[Category: Example software patents]]
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[[Category: Lawsuits and patent aggression]]

Latest revision as of 18:40, 26 March 2014

The volume of litigation between developers of third-generation phone-computers exploded in 2010.

Note: These cases are usually a mix of hardware patents and software patents. Distinguishing the two can be time-consuming, so it's possible that this page (and this wiki) erroneously lists some litigation about hardware patents (which are of no interest to this wiki). Help and review is very welcome.

As well as filing litigation in the courts, many cases were filed with the United States International Trade Commission to block imports and exports. No such blocks have yet been put in place (as of August 2010).

Why so much litigation?

Some factors are obvious: high-tech phones are a new, growing market.

Another factor might be that this new market mixes together software and hardware companies that haven't dealt with each other directly before. For this reason, the companies involved don't have existing patent non-aggression pacts with each other.

Lawsuits filed

Just a selection. More can be found among the general list at List of lawsuits.

Oldest first:

Related pages on ESP Wiki

External links

Diagrams of all the litigation

References