EFF.Org - Unfortunately, patent trolls are not a new phenomenon. But, lately we’ve seen a disturbing new trend: patent trolls targeting app developers. Platforms such as iOS and Android allow small software developers the ability to widely distribute their work, which – for obvious reasons – is good for both developers and consumers. Just as these developers were finding new audiences, the patent trolls decided they wanted a piece of the action and started sending cease-and-desist letters demanding license fees, and in some instances even suing. Often, these developers cannot afford the time and money it takes to fight the trolls, leaving them with a stark choice: pay up or go out of business. It should come as no surprise then to hear reports that developers are pulling their apps from the U.S. app stores.
We’ve written before about Lodsys (here and here), a troll accusing app developers of patent infringement based on in-app purchasing functionality. Lodsys continues to send out cease-and-desist letters even as litigation surrounding its patents is pending all over the country. (The Court has not yet ruled on Apple’s motion to intervene in the case Lodsys brought against iOS app developers.) More
We’ve written before about Lodsys (here and here), a troll accusing app developers of patent infringement based on in-app purchasing functionality. Lodsys continues to send out cease-and-desist letters even as litigation surrounding its patents is pending all over the country. (The Court has not yet ruled on Apple’s motion to intervene in the case Lodsys brought against iOS app developers.) More
