Apple, Google, Microsoft and other Smart Phone Makers Being Sued By NTP

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that NTP, a holder of over 50 technological patents, is suing Apple, Google, HTC Corp., LG Electronics Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Motorola Inc over their respective use of wireless delivery of e-mails via the cell phone. NTP is specifically seeking compensations for the use of eight of its patents which enable the ferrying of e-mails by way of the smart phone.

Other companies that also received patent-infringement suits from NTP are wireless providers such as AT&T Inc., Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA, Sprint Nextel Corp.,Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC's Verizon Wireless.

NTP does not manufacture any products, including smart phones, but it has contributed to the tech revolution in that lucrative, growing niche area. Lest you think this may be a nuisance law suit, it must be noted that NTP sued Research in Motion (RIMM) for a patent infringement, akin to its current litigation against the smart phones makers, and won a settlement of some $612.5 million.

NTP is a privately owned company and it was founded by the late Thomas Campana, who died in 2004. NTP co-founder, Donald E Stout, bemoans the fact that his company’s intellectual properties were being used is “unfair”. No one is handicapping how this law suit is going to be determined, but with the RIMM victory, it may bode well, for NTP, a Virginia based company.

None of the companies being sued commented on the pending litigation. Just looking at Apple’s sales alone of its iPhone, we can see the potential settlement or civil award that might be had by NTP for the unauthorized alleged use of its intellectual property. NTP is being very aggressive in the tech milieu in defending what it sees as uses of its patents. NPT has patent infringement litigation against Sprint Nextel, AT&T, and Verizon, just to name a few of the players in this niche.