Nortel Networks Corp., the Canadian maker of telecom equipment, filed a lawsuit on Friday against Vonage - claiming that it violated nine patents related to Internet phone services and related features such as 911 and 411 calling and click to call. Nortel spokesman Mohammed Nakhooda said the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware, countered claims made by Vonage that Nortel had violated three of its patents. Vonage Holdings Corp., Holmdel, N.J., was dragged into the legal battle after it acquired three patents from Digital Packet Licensing last year, according to Vonage spokesman Charles Sahner.
View: Full Story @ CBC.ca
View: Full Story @ CBC.ca
Idk, that idea came to mind when I think of vonage...
This will mean that a company is forced to licence (i.e. pay through the nose for) something that is required by law to be provided to the end user, or they can't produce a competing product.
Oh, wait, I forgot, it's a US patent story.
Still, it's a touch moneygrabbing to file suit (and patent) in the US if you aren't a US company. What other reason was the patent filed for if not to screw someone over in the future?
Here is the quote straight from the article;
"In this particular case, Vonage is pursuing the legal action, rather than getting sued. Sahner said Nortel's countersuit was a defensive move."
I can't believe you would call it playground mentality. Not launching a countersuit would be tantamount to admitting they have no claim.
This is irrespective of the fact that there shouldn't be software patents at all.
Is there any particular reason it was filed in Delaware? Are the local laws there more in favour of Nortel than Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, California, Massachusetts or Illinois, where they have offices?
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.