NTP goes after Palm
This is really more in the category of yesterday’s news, but NTP has gone after Palm after extorting $612.5 million from Research in Motion.
 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061106/ap_on_hi_te/ntp_palm_2
This seems to be another case dedicated to proving that our patent system needs serious help.
November 7th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
Stas, do you think NTP has a case on this one?
November 7th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Paul,
I’m not sure, but…
there are two areas of interest:
1. In the RIM/NTP case, the patents were valid at the start of the case. That is no longer true, as the USPTO has issued preliminary findings against their validity.
2. Unlike RIM, where the patents infringe on technology central to a Blackberry, the dispute here, as far as I understand, is about 3rd party software included on the Palm Treo … which raises questions of liability altogether different.
What do you think?
November 7th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
I think NTP might just have the goose laying the golden eggs. If the patents are valid, then the USPTO has to protect them, even if everyone thinks that NTP’s just filled with crooks.
This reminds me a little of the Michael Crook saga. Crook is suing everyone he can for copyright infringement under the DMCA for using his picture without his permission. He sends cease and desists which are often respected by the ISPs until someone gets the case in front of a judge or just tell him to piss off.
Crook doesn’t have a case, but the crooks at NTP just might. I don’t know if this is endemic to the USPTO or just a glaring anomaly.