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Patent troll Unwired Planet has gone on the offensive against Apple and Google.
The company has reportedly filed patent-infringement complaints against the companies over their alleged use of its intellectual property in mobile products. Unwired Planet charges Apple with violating 10 patents related to everything from its device designs to cloud services. Google, too, was hit with 10 claims. RRT News was first to report on the infringement suits.
Companies like Unwired Planet don’t create products or services. Instead, patent trolls wait for another firm to develop products that allegedly infringe their intellectual property, then pounce. Allegedly offending companies often choose to license the patent; those that fail to do so typically face a protracted lawsuit.
Unwired Planet earlier this year completed the sale of its Mediation and Messaging product businesses, leaving it open to focus solely on patents. At that time, the company made clear that it would “protect its patent portfolio of approximately 200 issued U.S. and foreign patents, and approximately 75 pending applications, many of which are considered foundational to mobile communications.”
Unwired Planet is certainly no stranger to lawsuits. The company, which previously called itself Openwave Systems, filed a lawsuit against Apple and Research In Motion, claiming those companies violated five of its patents. Today’s lawsuit against Apple extends beyond that earlier litigation.
Still, Apple and Google are no strangers to lawsuits, either. Apple, especially, is locked in bitter patent disputes with Samsung over mobile technology. Google’s Motorola is also involved in several cases.
It’s not currently clear which products from Apple and Google are allegedly infringing Unwired Planet’s patents. CNET has contacted Unwired Planet for more details.
CNET has also contacted Google and Apple for comment on the lawsuit. We will update this story when we have more information.
(Via The Next Web)
