Lodsys Sues 7 iPhone Devs Over Patent Infringement Claims 123
Dachannien writes "Patently-O and Ars Technica report that Lodsys has filed suit [here's the complaint] in the Eastern District of Texas against seven iPhone developers, asserting that the defendants are infringing two patents. Apple had previously indicated their belief that all iPhone developers are protected by a licensing agreement that Apple had made with the patents' former assignee, Intellectual Ventures. But Lodsys insists that the defendants are nonetheless liable for infringement. Still an open question is whether Apple will go beyond the mailing of strongly worded letters in defending third-party iPhone devs."
Re:I would hope apple will defend. (Score:4, Informative)
Err, before pronouncing doom and gloom upon all things Apple, you may want to think ahead a bit... this patent appears sufficiently broad enough so that Android and WP7 developers may well be next.
Personally, while Apple does need to get it in gear and provide as much aid as possible (can 'tortious interference' be a case here if Apple were indeed to sue Lodsys?), Microsoft and Google may *very* well want to get off their butts and at least start making moves to protect their own dev stables.
PS: Even worst-case, this would be a chilling effect only if your iPhone app included an in-app payment system.
Lets not forget... (Score:5, Informative)
Lodsys Sues 7 iPhone Devs and 1 Andriod Dev Over Patent Infringement Claims..
Lodsys sues 7 app developers in East Texas, disagrees with Apple; Android also targeted [blogspot.com]