Apple, Microsoft, Motorola and Others Named in E-Mail Patent Lawsuit

In 2001, NTP sued the BlackBerry maker for what it said were infringements on nine of its patents for wireless e-mail. After years of legal maneuverings, in 2006, RIM agreed to make a one-time payment of $612.5 million to NTP, in exchange for being able to continue offering its e-mail services.

On July 8, NTP filed patent lawsuits against six of the industry's biggest players - Apple, HTC, LG Electronics, Microsoft and Motorola - in a United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The lawsuits accuse the manufacturers of infringing on eight patents related to "the delivery of electronic mail over wireless communications systems."

In a July 9 statement on the suits, NTP describes its founder, Tom Campana, as being the inventor of wireless e-mail.

To read the original eWeek article, click here: Apple, HTC, Microsoft, Others Face E-Mail Patent Lawsuit