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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Smartphone firms face patent row | Smartphone firms face patent row |
| (1 day later) | |
| Smartphones are big business | Smartphones are big business |
| A firm that won more than $600m (£398m) from the maker of the Blackberry after accusing it of breaching patents has now sued six other smartphone firms including Apple and Google. | |
| NTP says that the firms, along with HTC, Microsoft, Motorola and LG Electronics had infringed patents on wireless email technology. | |
| The same patents were at the heart of the case against Blackberry maker Research In Motion (RIM). | The same patents were at the heart of the case against Blackberry maker Research In Motion (RIM). |
| That dispute was settled in 2006. | That dispute was settled in 2006. |
| All of the companies named either make smartphones or the software used in smartphone applications. | All of the companies named either make smartphones or the software used in smartphone applications. |
| There were no comments from any of the firms accused in the lawsuits, which have been filed in a Virginia district court. | There were no comments from any of the firms accused in the lawsuits, which have been filed in a Virginia district court. |
| 'Resolution' | 'Resolution' |
| After the RIM settlement, which saw the Canadian firm pay out $612.5m, NTP's patents were re-examined by the US Patent and Trademark Office. | After the RIM settlement, which saw the Canadian firm pay out $612.5m, NTP's patents were re-examined by the US Patent and Trademark Office. |
| Many were thrown out, but NTP's president Don Stout said three had been upheld. | Many were thrown out, but NTP's president Don Stout said three had been upheld. |
| "We hope we can resolve these cases without having to go to trial," he said. | "We hope we can resolve these cases without having to go to trial," he said. |
| Suing for breach of patent is not new in the world of Smartphones. | Suing for breach of patent is not new in the world of Smartphones. |
| In May this year, for example, Nokia, filed its latest lawsuit against Apple claiming the iPad 3G and iPhone infringed five of its patents. | In May this year, for example, Nokia, filed its latest lawsuit against Apple claiming the iPad 3G and iPhone infringed five of its patents. |