We’ve seen sweeping patents before, but this may be the first one of this magnitude. According to the patent being defended:
A software platform in an Internet Protocol (IP) phone having the ability to be used with different communication infrastructures such as broadband, wireless communication and Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) service. Further, the software platform in the IP phone has the ability to be used with different applications operating on the IP phone. Further, the IP phone has the ability to perform additional functionality than traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) phones, such as searches and advertising, given its ability to converge voice and data within a single terminal.
The patent just quoted was awarded to a company called HW Technology backin 2009, and now they’re taking on a ton of companies, such as Google, RIM, Apple, HTC, LG, Nokia, and 26 others. Along with taking on the companies themselves, they’re also taking on things like the Android Market and the Apple App Store.
Sounds ridiculous, right? That’s right… because it is. The lawsuit was filed earlier in the week, with its sights set on anything that “allows users to complete a merchant transaction without the need to generate a voice call.”
Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments.
[via mobilecrunch]