NTP suing Apple, Google, HTC, LG, Microsoft and Motorola over email delivery patents

The intellectual property holding company NTP has sued giants Apple, Google, HTC, LG, Microsoft and Motorola this week over patents pertaining to the delivery of email on smartphones.

Each company either makes smartphones, or creates the software used on them.

NTP is alleging that each company has infringed on up to eight patents.

The holding company won over $600 million in damages from BlackBerry maker RIM in 2006 for a similar suit.

NTP has been called a "patent troll" by the industry, one that is making money off the innovation of others. NTP does not agree.

"Use of NTP's intellectual property without a license is just plain unfair to NTP and its licensees," said Donald E. Stout, NTP's co-founder, via CNet. "Unfortunately, litigation is our only means of ensuring the inventor of the fundamental technology on which wireless email is based, Tom Campana, and NTP shareholders are recognized, and are fairly and reasonably compensated for their innovative work and investment. We took the necessary action to protect our intellectual property."

(Pic found here)

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 9 Jul 2010 16:26

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6 comments

Mysttic

I think its fair they won against RIM, companies are told to research who's invented what before taking the plunge to incorporate it into their own technology. Had they just tried to deal with them in the first place, they would have paid a lot less.

9.7.2010 18:11 #1

cart0181

Originally posted by Mysttic: I think its fair they won against RIM, companies are told to research who's invented what before taking the plunge to incorporate it into their own technology. Had they just tried to deal with them in the first place, they would have paid a lot less. Amen to that. If I was the original inventor of a technology, I would hate for someone to steal my idea and start using it for free without asking me, just because they think they are too big for me to do anything about it. It is the bully and the lunch money scenario all over again. Also, it is a huge dis-incentive for inventors to do what they do best. Just think of all the great ideas people would come up with if they didn't ever worry about their idea getting stolen. NTP seems like the big brother that goes and beats up that bully for ya.

9.7.2010 18:33 #2

OmriSama

Lol love the troll pic

9.7.2010 23:27 #3

KillerBug

I hate to see an inventor go unrewarded when the invention is a success, but what did this guy really invent?

"ensuring the inventor of the fundamental technology on which wireless email is based, Tom Campana, and NTP shareholders are recognized"

So he invented email? No.
He invented an email client that automatically checks for new mail? No.
He invented 3G? No.

So what did he invent? Those are the three fundamental technologies on which wireless email is based. Wireless email isn't even a thing; email is email...some are text, some are HTML, some have attachments or priorities or BCC's...but they are all just emails, and it does not matter what device you use to get them; they are still just emails.

From what I can tell, all he did was to say, "This device has internet, and things with internet access can get email."...and then he wrote it up in a patent, and submitted it with a bribe; as that is the only way a patent like that would go through. It is like if I tried to patent the idea of watching TV on the patio, and then tried to sue anyone that I saw doing it.

If this guy is really an inventor, he needs to go invent something, rather than just pointing out things so obvious that no one else would try to patent them, as they are already common property. Total troll; he is guarding the wireless email bridge built by others, and he is taking credit for the idea, when the whole community wanted a bridge there years before he showed up. These kinds of patents are hurting the little guys a lot more than the big companies that you are always hearing about. Big companies can pay lawyer fees, settlements, and licensing fees. They can also trade patent use rights with other companies...small companies can't do anything when "soldering a chip to a circuit board" is patented by some company that was formed in 1995.

10.7.2010 00:07 #4

xtago

Originally posted by cart0181: Originally posted by Mysttic: I think its fair they won against RIM, companies are told to research who's invented what before taking the plunge to incorporate it into their own technology. Had they just tried to deal with them in the first place, they would have paid a lot less. Amen to that. If I was the original inventor of a technology, I would hate for someone to steal my idea and start using it for free without asking me, just because they think they are too big for me to do anything about it. It is the bully and the lunch money scenario all over again. Also, it is a huge dis-incentive for inventors to do what they do best. Just think of all the great ideas people would come up with if they didn't ever worry about their idea getting stolen. NTP seems like the big brother that goes and beats up that bully for ya. Well if you have the money you can just go and patent what ever you like.

You don't have to be the inverter of something just say you came up with something and apply for it if you get it well it's yours.

So this company might have patented the use of an email client on a smart phone.

Or the sending of data sent to a mobile which contains email data.

They don't actually mean anything but if you have those patents you can go and sue companies for not paying you first.

Is it frivolous yes, but that is how the laws work currently.

The patent office is trying to get rid of these sorts of things as it could end up being that sending email to a mobile could cost millions just because a company can sue you.

10.7.2010 22:02 #5

blueboy09

Originally posted by KillerBug: I hate to see an inventor go unrewarded when the invention is a success, but what did this guy really invent?

"ensuring the inventor of the fundamental technology on which wireless email is based, Tom Campana, and NTP shareholders are recognized"

So he invented email? No.
He invented an email client that automatically checks for new mail? No.
He invented 3G? No.

So what did he invent? Those are the three fundamental technologies on which wireless email is based. Wireless email isn't even a thing; email is email...some are text, some are HTML, some have attachments or priorities or BCC's...but they are all just emails, and it does not matter what device you use to get them; they are still just emails.

From what I can tell, all he did was to say, "This device has internet, and things with internet access can get email."...and then he wrote it up in a patent, and submitted it with a bribe; as that is the only way a patent like that would go through. It is like if I tried to patent the idea of watching TV on the patio, and then tried to sue anyone that I saw doing it.

If this guy is really an inventor, he needs to go invent something, rather than just pointing out things so obvious that no one else would try to patent them, as they are already common property. Total troll; he is guarding the wireless email bridge built by others, and he is taking credit for the idea, when the whole community wanted a bridge there years before he showed up. These kinds of patents are hurting the little guys a lot more than the big companies that you are always hearing about. Big companies can pay lawyer fees, settlements, and licensing fees. They can also trade patent use rights with other companies...small companies can't do anything when "soldering a chip to a circuit board" is patented by some company that was formed in 1995. While I agree with everything you're saying man, when is this shit ever going to stop? One company wants to sue the pants of another is really getting annoying!!

Life is about walking on thin ice, if you make too much drama, youll crack under pressure. - BLUEBOY

11.7.2010 12:05 #6

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