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Microsoft Sues TomTom Over Patent Breaches


pocketgpsworld.comYet more bad news for TomTom with Microsoft announcing it has filed patent infringement claims in US Court against TomTom Europe and its US subsidiary.

The patents concern ''innovations in car navigation technology and other computing functionality'' which have already been licensed by other companies according to Microsoft. They said that attempts had been made for over a year to engage TomTom in discussions about licensing this technology.

The complaint filed in Washington State alleges that TomTom were first made aware of the infringement of 8 Microsoft patents in June 2008 and seeks unspecified damages and a permanent injunction.

TomTom have declined to comment.

Comments
Posted by SpikeyMikey on Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:32 am Reply with quote

Thanks Darren.

A bit long winded for me but I found the following which gives the actual documents relating to the alleged infringements if anyone's interested.

http://media.techflash.com/documents/tomtomComplaint.pdf

and

http://media.techflash.com/documents/tomtomitc.pdf

Hope that helps

Edit: Sorry I meant the documents linked to were long winded Embarassed


Mike
TT GO6000 (Europe); iPhone and iPad Pro with iOS TT GO & MyDrive + CamerAlert

 
Posted by gatorguy6996 on Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:44 am Reply with quote

They look to mostly revolve around methods of presentation and delivery of services on the "live" devices if I've understood them correctly. Legalese is not my second language.


Garmin 1695 / 255 / 760 w/MSN - Droid w/Google nav + Navigon - Navigon 8100T - Dakota10 - GPSMap76C - GeoMate Jr.

 
Posted by MrT on Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:00 pm Reply with quote

None of the devices MS complain about are Live devices, they list the following "accused devices":

32A. TomTom Go 720
32B. TomTom Go 730
32C. TomTom Go 930
32D. TomTom Go 930T
32E. TomTom One
32F. TomTom One 125
32G. TomTom One 130
32H. TomTom One 130-S
32I. TomTom One XL
32J. TomTom One XL-S
32K. TomTom Rider
32L. TomTom XL 330
32M. TomTom XL 330-S

It seems that the MS patents are almost like saying the idea of two devices talking together in a car is ours, combined short and long file names are ours. Bill Gates has patented the Creation and mankind.


Drivelux

 
Posted by layingback on Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:10 pm Reply with quote

Some of the patents concern Microsoft IP - eg. FAT used on file system, some refer to hardware - which probably won't stand up after Bilski ruling last year, but some relate to Linux use of claimed Microsoft IP.

Microsoft have been threatening to sue some Linux entity over UNSPECIFIED patents for about 2 years. Having not clarified what those patents are to date, don't expect clarity any time soon!

Have Microsoft decided that in its current state TomTom makes for an easy inroad into setting patent licensing precedence on Open Source?

THE place to follow this is here.


Go Premium X / Go 1005

 
Posted by Quantum on Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:54 pm Reply with quote

Laughing Out Loud, sued for everything EXCEPT their discontinued PDA software!


George the Second, to wounded vets in the Amputee Care Center, Jan. 1, 2006:
"As you can possibly see, I have an injury myself -- not here at the hospital, but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. T

 
Posted by bullyterrier on Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:07 pm Reply with quote

Perhaps microsoft will have better luck getting anything from them than us that have been robbed paying for the map updates and not using them because the application isn't up to the job.
So mote it be Razz


 
Posted by Quantum on Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:35 pm Reply with quote

So mote it be, Brother.


George the Second, to wounded vets in the Amputee Care Center, Jan. 1, 2006:
"As you can possibly see, I have an injury myself -- not here at the hospital, but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. T

 
Posted by DennisN on Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:11 pm Reply with quote

Well, now my Map Update Service cost doesn't look like quite such a bargain after all. Perhaps a sweepstake on whether or not we get a new map before Microsoft puts TomTom below ground?


Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

 
Posted by Rick-uk on Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:13 pm Reply with quote

Quote:
32A. TomTom Go 720


But not the 520 or 920

What's the difference apart from maps


https://share.octopus.energy/dense-raven-261

 
Posted by Andy_P on Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:20 pm Reply with quote

Quantum Wrote:
So mote it be, Brother.


Funny handshakes all round? Confused

DennisN Wrote:
Well, now my Map Update Service cost doesn't look like quite such a bargain after all.

Don't forget it's still no more than a few days late, working by any set of maths!


"Settling in nicely" ;-)

 
Posted by Quantum on Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:00 pm Reply with quote

{hehe}
Only amongst the geometrically-enlightened, please.


George the Second, to wounded vets in the Amputee Care Center, Jan. 1, 2006:
"As you can possibly see, I have an injury myself -- not here at the hospital, but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. T

 
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