For the second time, Apple has attempted to come to the rescue of its development community by filing a motion that, if successful, will see the giant play a valuable role in legal action against iOS studios by Lodsys.
According to Foss Patents, the motion is an attempt by Apple to intervene in the seven lawsuits taken out against studios working across iOS, Mac and Android at the start of June.
Emotional motion
"Apple Inc. ("Apple") hereby respectfully moves to intervene as a defendant and counterclaim plaintiff in the above-captioned action brought by plaintiff Lodsys, LLC ("Lodsys") against seven software application developers (collectively, "Developers"), forallegedly infringing U.S. Patent Nos. 7,222,078 (the "078 patent") and 7,620,565 (the "565 patent" and, collectively, the "patents in suit")," the motion reads.
"Apple seeks to intervene because it is expressly licensed to provide to the Developers products and services that embody the patents in suit, free from claims of infringement of those patents."
Before Lodsys took said legal action, Apple had previously dismissed its hold over iOS studios, claiming its license to use the company's in-app purchase patents also covered developers working within the ecosystem.
Lodsys, however, has always maintained that developers are individually responsible for obtaining their own license agreements, and that Apple cannot sprinkle "pixie dust" over the development community as a whole.
A new player arrives
It's believed though not yet confirmed that Apple has also offered to pay all defendants' costs and potential risks, for fear that the cases will break down without such financial resolve.
However, it's not the only major player currently taking a pop at Lodsys.
It's being reported that industry analyst firm Foresee Results has filed a declaratory lawsuit against the company, owing to the threat of legal action against a number of its customers, including Best Buy, WE Energies and Adidas.
Foresee's challenge accuses Lodsys of sending its clients infringement claim letters - presumably much like those originally sent out to iOS developers in a bid to tap up licensing deals.
If Foresee is successful in its bid, Lodsys' patent claim would be declared invalid, which could undermine the firm's current action against app developers.
[source: Foss Patents]
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024
5 takeaways from GDC 2024: The games industry reckons with key challenges, Godot competes with Unity, and AI was the big trend without the big announcements
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024
Hot Five: Epic’s app store plans, Turkey’s tax exemptions, and Call of Duty Warzone: Mobile finally releases globally
Events
Mobidictum Network Lisbon April 2024 | Europe | Apr 16th |
HIT Games Conference Istanbul 2024 | Apr 18th | |
App Promotion Summit London | Europe | Apr 25th |
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2024 | Middle East | May 1st |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 7th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
Mobidictum Meetup Barcelona September 2024 | Europe | Sep 1st |
Popular Stories
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024
5 takeaways from GDC 2024: The games industry reckons with key challenges, Godot competes with Unity, and AI was the big trend without the big announcements
Interview
Mar 22nd, 2024