Sony/Philips-funded Intertrust sues Apple over 15 patents
updated 03:56 pm EDT, Wed March 20, 2013
Security, distributed computing patents at stake
Research and development firm Intertrust has filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming violation of 15 patents connected to "security and distributed trusted computing," according to an announcement. The company doesn't go into specific detail about the patents, but identifies numerous Apple products as infringing, including Macs, the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple TV, along with services such as iTunes, iCloud, and the App Store.
"Our patents are foundational to modern Internet security and trusted computing, and result from years of internal research and development," reads a statement by Intertrust CEO Talal Shamoon. "We are proud of our record of peaceful and constructive licensing with industry leaders. We find it regrettable that we are forced to seek Court assistance to resolve this matter."
Intertrust is notably backed in large part by Sony and Philips, who each have a 49.5 percent stake. The firm has also licensed its patents to other major corporations in the past, such as Adobe, Samsung, Nokia, Microsoft, and HTC. It's not clear to what extent it might have gone to secure a deal with Apple.
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Thinkman
Another day, another suit against Apple by companies that are failing or find it easier to make money this way than to actually create products that people want.