Apple Defends App Makers Against Lodsys 108
A mere few days after the EFF called upon Apple to Indemnify developers against alleged infringement of Lodsys patents on in-app purchases, Apple has sent Lodsys a letter defending developers. Apple argues that it has a license to the Lodsys patents that extends to individual developers making the Lodsys claims invalid. Hopefully the baring of legal teeth will put this matter to rest.
i would hope... (Score:5, Insightful)
...that lodsys completely destroys all app devs, and the whole app market as a whole, ultimately raising awareness to the ridiculous framework of patents and litigation in our country... ultimately leading to serious reform.
Re:Tip of the Iceberg (Score:0, Insightful)
I find it odd that you are using a disfunctional government created monopoly system as an indictment of free markets. Either you don't understand what a free market is, or you've got quite the unthinking socialist tic.
Re:In-App purchases (Score:4, Insightful)
It seems pretty clear-cut as that; the letter isn't a mere opinion or press release. Its a detailed rebuttel by Apple's legal department, including a cease and desist instruction and a clear statement that they a) are licensed, b) this license covers the use of their API's by developers, and c) they will defend this in court.
Re:In-App purchases (Score:4, Insightful)
And unfortunately, it takes about $30,000 to start an investigation to have the patent invalidated. Even then it may take months for it to happen, should you be sued in the time it takes no one will force them to pay your lawyers, and the investigation may not result in the patent being invalidated resulting in a waste of 30 grand.
This is another example on how broken the patent system is. It's designed so the common man can't apply for them, nor even attempt to revoke obvious ones with decades of prior art. It's a tool for the wealthy to harass the poor and force control of inventions into the hands of corporations that actually can afford the patent process.