Apple, Dell and Sony pinged for catch-all Bluetooth lawsuit

The University of Washington patent lawsuit, which already was ragging on Nokia, Samsung and Panasonic for supposed patent infringement, has now been expanded to encompass pretty much every big name in electronics. The name namers have added Apple, Dell, Sony, Logitech, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Plantronics to the suit, which is asking for money damages, and a court order to stop sales of products using the Washington Research Foundations claimed patents. Only manufacturers using Bluetooth tech from Broadcom, which has licensed the tech from the WRF, go untouched. No word on how far along this case is, but with this many corporate lawyers in the mix, we aren't expecting any substantial developments this century.

[Via The Inquirer]

[victor @ Mar 28th 2007 5:31PM]

I'm reminded of the Jerky Boys quote: "Sue everybody!"

[Kevin @ Mar 28th 2007 5:34PM]

Go Huskies!!

[Pete D @ Mar 28th 2007 5:49PM]

Maybe this means all Washington State residents children can get free tuition if they get a multi-billion dollar settlement from EACH of the companies in violation. Hey I can dream can't I? That would be enough of a reason for me to go back to Seattle.

Go DAWGS!!!!!!

[Roflgoat @ Mar 28th 2007 6:04PM]

How did you not make the picture say "Suetooth" ?

That would have been perfect.

[Dave @ Mar 28th 2007 6:05PM]

Hmm I wonder if this would cover HTC devices and maybe even the Wii and PS3.

[Tim @ Mar 28th 2007 6:09PM]

Personally, if I were one of these companies, I would get together with the rest of the defendants and agree to jointly develop a new standard. Then, everyone can stop using bluetooth. Screw them. Nothing like waiting until everyone is using the technology to jump out of the weeds.

[Tommy @ Mar 28th 2007 6:26PM]

if they don't sue all of them they can't secure the rights to their product, and also if they don't include some of these plaintiffs this time they (would) might be precluded from bringing the claim against them at another time. yes sue them all.

[GadgetAddict @ Mar 28th 2007 7:08PM]

This is huge! How could so many companies infringed on this patent? And why is the U of Washington taking action now? Bluetooth has been around for years!

[dvmrp @ Mar 28th 2007 9:10PM]

I'm pretty sick of this. Keep slience on the patented technology and then sue the other who make it success afterward. ridiculous

[Matt @ Mar 28th 2007 11:21PM]

So Nintendo is safe.
All you University of Washington students should feel bad for being at the same university as this Edwin Suominen asshole. Seriously, what's with all these BS patent lawsuits.

[LR @ Mar 28th 2007 11:43PM]

I don't think it's the Unversity of Washington that filed the lawsuit.

The suit is about two patents issued to Edwin A. Suominen, a former student at the Unversity of Washington. Suominen conducted research as an undergraduate in the mid-1990s, which led to advancements in radio frequency (RF) receiver technology, which is used in the chipsets in Bluetooth.

Washington Research Foundation (WRF) handled the patent and is the one who brought the lawsuit. Apparently they provide a means through which research institutions in Washington can have their intellectual property patented and protected

There are two wireless chipset manufacturers involved in Bluetooth, Broadcom and Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR).

Broadcom approach WRF in 2005 and negotiated a license. As such, they are not named in the suit.

Basically those being sued are the ones who are using the CSR wireless chipset, who contend the patents do not apply to them.

If WRF wins, either those with CSR chipsets will have to stop using their products (unlikely, but potentially possible-- shades of RIM's Blackberry) or will have to pay licensing fees and damages to WRF, which would likely translate into more expensive Bluetooth products as the cost will be passed on to the customer.

If WRF loses, the whole thing goes away. The suit has been around since December 2006.

[Joe @ Mar 28th 2007 11:49PM]

F*** the huskies!!

[David @ Mar 29th 2007 12:46AM]

Damn.. pretty soon we'll all be sued for burning cd's and dvd's :(

[KC @ Mar 29th 2007 4:51AM]

It's ironic that Microsoft is based out of Washington... and Apple and Sony are named in this supposed patent infringement.

[wabguard-email @ Mar 29th 2007 2:05PM]

Money money money mooonneeeyy!
Thats why :)