Microsoft Counter-sues Acacia Over Smartphone Patents

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Microsoft has filed a lawsuit against Acacia Research Corp today, charging that Acacia broke a contract to license various smartphone and mobile computing technologies to Microsoft.

The lawsuit, filed under seal in New York federal court, follows a number of patent infringement lawsuits brought by Acacia subsidiaries against Microsoft in October in Texas, Delaware and Illinois.

In 2010, Microsoft agreed to pay an Acacia subsidiary to license a portfolio of patents related to smartphones and tablets ultimately owned by Tokyo-based web browser firm Access Co.

In October, various Acacia subsidiaries filed lawsuits against Microsoft, charging that the software company had infringed more than a dozen patents. Microsoft’s lawsuit is a response to those actions. 

“Acacia’s lawsuits are the worst kind of abusive litigation behaviour, attempting to extract payment based on litigation tactics and not the value of its patents,” said David Howard, Microsoft’s deputy general counsel, in an emailed statement.

The case is Microsoft Corp vs. Acacia Research Corp, 13-8275, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

Source: Reuters

More about the topics: acacia research corporation, microsoft, patents

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