Patents

A new patent awarded to Web retailer Amazon.com could change what customers see in their shipping confirmation e-mails, as well as making falsely problematic returns more difficult.

U.S. patent number 7,689,465, which was unearthed early Tuesday by blog TechFlash, outlines a process wherein the company films outgoing packages being boxed up. Stills from these videos, or the entire video clip of the packing, can then be sent to the buyer for what Amazon says is verification of both the order and the shipping address.

But the idea behind the patent is not just for customers, it'… Read more

A Taiwanese chipmaker is suing Apple over the use of multitouch technology in several products, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, and forthcoming iPad.

Elan Microelectronics filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission Tuesday, accusing Apple of violating an Elan-owned patent that covers "touch-sensitive input devices with the ability to detect the simultaneous presence of two or more fingers."

Elan claims the iPhone, iPod Touch, MacBook, and Magic Mouse are in violation of Elan's patent, No. 5,825,352, and when the iPad goes on sale this Saturday, it will be too. Elan has asked the ITC … Read more

Patent No. 7,679,604--"Method and apparatus for controlling a computer system"--the broad motion-control patent I've been writing about this week, has passed through a number of hands over the years.

First assigned to ArrayComm in 2006, it was subsequently handed over to Durham Logistics, a limited liability company which is itself managed by another obscure Las Vegas LLC called Memscom. But there's one more company at the end of that oblique line of ownership: Intellectual Ventures, an "invention capital firm" or patent troll, depending on your views on innovation and intellectual … Read more

Here's a potentially noteworthy development in the patent litigation-riddled mobile device market.

The patent is No. 7,679,604, "Method and apparatus for controlling a computer system," and it describes motion control as a means of interacting with smartphones and the like.

The invention, the patent's authors explain, "facilitates an intuitive motion control of the application by physically manipulating the electronic device...it enables a user to intuitively control the state and/or displayed content of a computing device without the conventional need of pressing button(s), or manipulating a trackpad, trackball, etc. In this … Read more

After scoring big in one court case against Microsoft this week, VirnetX is hoping for seconds.

VirnetX announced on Thursday that it has launched another lawsuit against Microsoft, this time claiming that the same patent violations found in Windows XP and Vista from the first suit also exist in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

On Tuesday, a Texas jury ruled against Microsoft in a patent infringement case initiated by VirnetX in 2007. VirnetX, which develops software to secure instant messaging and VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) communications, alleged that Microsoft had violated two of its patents concerning virtual … Read more

Sometimes it doesn't take more than a cease-and-desist letter, or some good backroom negotiating skills, for Apple to get what it wants.

The use of the term "pod" was one such case. Getting the trademark on the name "iPhone" was another. But plenty of times Apple turned to lawyers and mounds of paperwork to defend its intellectual property, or more often, defend itself.

The most recent legal wrangling Apple has engaged in willingly is the high-profile suit against HTC, maker of smartphones like the Eris and Nexus One. It's assumed by many to be … Read more

Looks like Apple may be the latest to succumb to the geomadness gripping the mobile-development space right now.

Patently Apple dug up an Apple patent application Thursday for a social-networking service called iGroups that uses geographic location data to connect iPhone and other mobile-device users.

iGroups would let friend groups attending an event to stay in touch and share information in real time. If that sounds familiar it's because similar geolocation apps that accomplish the same thing are popping up more frequently--apps like Foursquare, Gowalla, Whrrl, Loopt, and others. According to the patent, iGroups is a bit different underneath, … Read more

Handset maker HTC says it's ready to defend itself against a patent complaint filed by Apple.

Earlier this month, Apple launched legal action against HTC, alleging that the Taiwanese company had violated 20 different patents related to the Apple iPhone. HTC makes phones based on Google's Android operating system as well as Microsoft's Windows Mobile.

On Thursday, HTC issued its response.

"HTC disagrees with Apple's actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done," said HTC … Read more

A jury in Texas ruled against Microsoft Tuesday in a patent infringement case and awarded plaintiff VirnetX $105.75 million.

Scotts Valley, Calif.-based VirnetX sued Microsoft in February 2007, alleging that the software giant had infringed on two VirnetX patents related to virtual private network technology.

The jury in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas found that Microsoft willfully infringed on the patents, according to a statement from the firm of McKool Smith, which represented VirnetX.

"Our clients are very happy with today's verdict," attorney Douglas Cawley said in the statement. "… Read more