Apple, AT&T hit with lawsuit over iPhone's Visual Voicemail feature
Apple's already drawn a bit of unintended attention for the iPhone's Visual Voicemail feature, and it now looks like its facing a bit more heat on the matter, with Klausner Technologies now suing both it and AT&T for alleged patent infringement. Specifically, Klasuner is claiming that the Apple and AT&T violated two of its patents by "allowing users to selectively retrieve voice messages via the iPhone's inbox display" and, according to Apple Insider, its seeking damages and future royalties estimated at some $360 million. But that's not all, Klausner also apparently filed similar claims today against Comcast, Cablevision, and eBay (Skype, specifically), with damages and future royalties in those cases clocking in to the tune of $300 million. What's more, all this apparently follows two other lawsuits over the very same patents, which Klausner's attorney says they've litigated successfully. As is often the case, however, it's now up to the federal court in the Eastern District of Texas to sort things out.[Thanks, Mark]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MannyM @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:20PM
Wow! Vonage isn't getting sued for once.
Doug Tondro @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:32PM
I really hate some of the things that people can get patents for. I mean, a patent for being able to check messages in the users prefer order?
Come on... that would mean there is probably someone out there with the patent to listen to voice mails in alphabetical order based on your address book entries?
I think it is a common sense thing that someone would eventually want to be able to select which messages they listened to. They shouldn't have been issued a patent in the first place. The USPTO is getting out of hand...
radmoose @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:24PM
You have violated my patent on commenting on patent violations.
Please send $36.00 for each infringement.
KTHXBYE
PSM @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:54PM
Seriously this is about the most obvious improvement since the invention of the answering machine. The technology has finally caught up with the INCREDIBLY obvious need for such a thing. I think anyone who has used a telephone in the last 15 years has wished they had this. What idiot thought this was such a brilliant idea that only one company has come up with?
Donald @ Dec 3rd 2007 5:22PM
Oh, Marshall... is there a patent troll you're not keeping in business?
RC @ Dec 3rd 2007 5:26PM
Patent trolling should be punishable by death... Because it is so goddamn annoying!
Benjamin @ Dec 3rd 2007 7:56PM
well, and the fact that it stifles innovation... had you ever heard of Klausner Technologies before this post? No? Thats because they exist only to make money from suing companies who would like to make innovative products to sell to you, preventing you from having cool shit.
Seriously, I really, really hate patent trolls. No telling how many good ideas have been shelved at apple and other companies just because they researched it and decided the current available patents were too risky.
David L. @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:17PM
to #1 searching for Klausner Technologies they've already sued Vongage lol
and AOL too!
WiFone @ Dec 10th 2007 9:36AM
Yeah don't we all hate patent trolls with patents for totally obvious technologies. And Steve Jobs is definitely one of them.
"[...] Apple CEO Steve Jobs bragged about the more than 200 patents backing up the iPhone."
"Just as the Macintosh was a breakthrough in 1984 for its mouse, and the iPod in 2001 for its click wheel, the iPhone's stroke of genius is this new 'multi-touch' technology," he said, according to The Economist. And boy have we patented it."