MSFT Founder Sues Google, Apple, eBay, YouTube
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."
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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.
Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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COLGeek I really hope they choke on this litigation. Too bad you can sue anyone for anything these days.Reply -
stratplaya Oh Paul, We don't hear from you for decades, then you should up with this?Reply
For shame.
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dalethepcman 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.Reply -
Moores Law 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.Reply -
Omniblivion "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 :( "Reply
XBox Live Users, Google, Apple, Ebay, YouTube, etc*.
Fixed :)
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vertigo_2000 I hope he's doing this just to make a point. Maybe this will help set a precedent.Reply -
akarra IDG reports that a representative for Google has criticized the suit, declaring, "Innovation not litigation."Reply
That representative will eat those words when Google sues for patent infringement.