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MSFT Founder Sues Google, Apple, eBay, YouTube

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US | B 75 comments

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen made headlines this past weekend when it emerged that his company is suing several of the biggest names in the tech industry over patent infringement.

The name Interval Research may not mean anything to you. Don't worry, it didn't mean much to most people until Friday afternoon, as it's been defunct for 10 years. IR was started by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and David Liddle, the man responsible for developing the Xerox Star computer system in the early '90s. Founded in 1992, it focused on the Internet and consumer technology applications. Though the company was dissolved in April of 2000, it has filed suit against no more than 11 major tech companies, including Google, Yahoo! and Apple.

The suit, filed Friday in Western District of Washington, accuses AOL, Apple, eBay, Facebook, Google, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Yahoo, and YouTube of violating Interval Research Patents relating to multimedia, databases and screen activity.

The specific patents covered by the lawsuit are listed below:

-- U.S. Patent No. 6,263,507, for "Browser for Use in Navigating a Body of Information, With Particular Application to Browsing Information Represented By Audiovisual Data."

-- U.S. Patent No. 6,034,652, for "Attention Manager for Occupying the Peripheral Attention of a Person in the Vicinity of a Display Device."

-- U.S. Patent No. 6,788,314, for "Attention Manager for Occupying the Peripheral Attention of a Person in the Vicinity of a Display Device."

-- U.S. Patent No. 6,757,682, for "Alerting Users to Items of Current Interest."

IDG reports that a representative for Google has criticized the suit, declaring, "Innovation not litigation."

"This lawsuit against some of America's most innovative companies reflects an unfortunate trend of people trying to compete in the courtroom instead of the marketplace. Innovation -- not litigation -- is the way to bring to market the kinds of products and services that benefit millions of people around the world," a spokesperson for the search giant said.

Read the full story on Reuters.

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Top Comments
  • 22 Hide
    COLGeek , August 30, 2010 9:59 PM
    I really hope they choke on this litigation. Too bad you can sue anyone for anything these days.
  • 20 Hide
    dalethepcman , August 30, 2010 10:03 PM
    I should make a boatload of vauge patents about using (insert application category) on cell phones then wait 10 years and file suit against everyone in the world. Sooner or later the court system will realize the patent system is fudged, but onyl after the lawyers finish destroying everything it was supposed to stand for.
  • 18 Hide
    processthis , August 30, 2010 10:28 PM
    Patents: The new way to invest for retirement.
Other Comments
    Display all 75 comments.
  • 22 Hide
    COLGeek , August 30, 2010 9:59 PM
    I really hope they choke on this litigation. Too bad you can sue anyone for anything these days.
  • 17 Hide
    hamthony , August 30, 2010 10:00 PM
    Paul can suck it, suck it, and suck it some more.
  • 17 Hide
    stratplaya , August 30, 2010 10:00 PM
    Oh Paul, We don't hear from you for decades, then you should up with this?
    For shame.
  • 20 Hide
    dalethepcman , August 30, 2010 10:03 PM
    I should make a boatload of vauge patents about using (insert application category) on cell phones then wait 10 years and file suit against everyone in the world. Sooner or later the court system will realize the patent system is fudged, but onyl after the lawyers finish destroying everything it was supposed to stand for.
  • 14 Hide
    sinfulpotato , August 30, 2010 10:06 PM
    Lawyers are making the big bucks now days.
  • 4 Hide
    Moores Law , August 30, 2010 10:09 PM
    I guess he not rich enough yet, he needs a few more million to use as toilet paper. seriously these rich guys only think of one thing making more money than they or several generations of their grand kids can spend in their life time.
  • -5 Hide
    Omniblivion , August 30, 2010 10:12 PM
    "
    OmniblivionI was wondering where Microsoft was going to get the $1 Bil cash to market/postrelease develop the Windows 7 Phone. Poor XBox Live Users :( 
    "

    XBox Live Users, Google, Apple, Ebay, YouTube, etc*.

    Fixed :) 
  • 3 Hide
    vertigo_2000 , August 30, 2010 10:12 PM
    I hope he's doing this just to make a point. Maybe this will help set a precedent.
  • 4 Hide
    akarra , August 30, 2010 10:14 PM
    IDG reports that a representative for Google has criticized the suit, declaring, "Innovation not litigation."

    That representative will eat those words when Google sues for patent infringement.
  • -1 Hide
    sliem , August 30, 2010 10:18 PM
    6,034,652 = 6,788,314?
    They are all STUPID.
  • 6 Hide
    distanted , August 30, 2010 10:20 PM
    If only I held the patent on the manure spreader...I could take on the whole Internet...
  • 3 Hide
    dalethepcman , August 30, 2010 10:21 PM
    otacon72Say what you want about patent trolls, those are some meaty patents.


    U.S. Patent No. 6,263,507
    Quote:
    enabling the body of information to be quickly reviewed to obtain an overview of the content of the body of information


    They patented an audio / visual table of contents for news.

    http://patft.uspto.gov/
  • 0 Hide
    hunter315 , August 30, 2010 10:24 PM
    Those patent titles seem awfully vague, i dont think this is going to last very long especially against the collective legal teams of those 11 companies.
  • 18 Hide
    processthis , August 30, 2010 10:28 PM
    Patents: The new way to invest for retirement.
  • 8 Hide
    bigbaddc3188 , August 30, 2010 10:32 PM
    stratplayaOh Paul, We don't hear from you for decades, then you should up with this?For shame.


    should up?

    Show up? :) 
  • 0 Hide
    ares1214 , August 30, 2010 10:35 PM
    As if they need any more money or need to constrict the market any more :p ff:
  • -6 Hide
    bv90andy , August 30, 2010 10:45 PM
    Title is misleading saying MSFT Founder is suingand the subtitle says co-founder is suing, so who is it then? or are they both?

    Also the patents sound really stupid, cheap shot, M$. Those things should be like the wheel. Or is someone going to sue everyone in the world for using wheels too?
  • 3 Hide
    webbwbb , August 30, 2010 10:48 PM
    I suppose Mr. Allen must regret agreeing to give away half of his fortune...
  • 1 Hide
    thechief73 , August 30, 2010 11:01 PM
    The government, courts or someone needs to put an end to this wave of patent trolling over the past few years. If the slow economy doesnt kill all the tech companies off they'll slowly but surly sue themselves too scard to invent/invest or into the ground. One or the other.

    Also - What the heck is going on at United States Patent and Trademark Office?
  • 0 Hide
    sokrman20 , August 30, 2010 11:02 PM
    It all started with hot coffee. After that, it was just a matter of time before all the crazies decided to try to get whatever they could from whomever they could.
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