If its Friday, it must mean another headline-grabbing patent lawsuit against Apple. Wi-LAN, which has a penchant for patent dustups with high-profile tech companies, is suing Apple over Wi-Fi and other wireless transmission technology.
Wi-LAN, which sued Apple in 2007 for using Wi-Fi and then in 2010 for Bluetooth, is now charging the tech giant violated two patents related to Wi-Fi and HSPA, or High Speed Packet Access, technology. Other defendants in the lawsuit includes Dell, HP, HTC, Kyocera, Novatel and Sierra Wireless.
The first patent allegedly infringed is entitled “Multicode direct sequence spread spectrum,” covering technology related to CDMA and HSPA, both cellular wireless standards. The second patent complaint involves the “method and apparatus for multiple access between transceivers in wireless communications using OFDM spread spectrum.” This patent is connected to technology used by Wi-Fi and 4G LTE.
Like other patent-infringement claims by Wi-LAN, the company filed the Apple lawsuit in a court in Texas’ Eastern District, notorious for attracting patent claims.
One wonders whether this lawsuit would even exist if the plaintiff were unable to get its name next to one of the hottest U.S. brands currently existing. No specific Apple products are named, nor any remedy sought from the court. Most cases such as these desire only one outcome: patent fees.
