I don’t think we need to pay too close attention to this lawsuit, since it’s so plainly without merit, but I do like to document it when these absurd patent lawsuits are filed. Some say it’s better to just ignore these jokers, but I think the “point and laugh” approach is worth it as well.
H-W Technologies, on the strength of a patent that’s essentially for a smartphone, has filed suit against pretty much every major phone manufacturer, including Apple, RIM, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, Kyocera, and Sony Ericsson. They also include a number of online stores that sell these infringing phones… and Hotels.com. Why Hotels.com? Because they, along with Expedia and a few other companies, have “products that have systems and/or methods for allowing a multi-convergence device utilizing a domain specific application to complete a merchant transaction without the need to generate a voice call.”
I don’t think the absurdity of this patent can be better explained than by its own wording. Here’s the filing in its entirety, and the patent in question.
51991759-17715631180 –
[via TechDirt]
