(Thumbnail image: Wikimedia Commons)
BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY
“Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen is suing a dozen major tech companies...” (Fox News)
Which companies is Paul Allen suing? A better question might be who he’s NOT suing. Allen recently filed a lawsuit against Google, Apple, Facebook, Netflix, YouTube, AOL, eBay, Yahoo, Office Depot, and Office Max, over patent infringements. The Wall Street Journal says Allen is suing some of his own kind.
“This is an amazing move, because this is a man who is a co-founder of Microsoft. Right. It sort of like violates a little bit of the gentleman’s creed because these are his friends, he hangs out with them in Silicon Valley, you know...”
The Financial Times says the four patents included in the lawsuit were broad, touching on common Internet activities. For example, one patent covers the technology that offers options for “related items” to consumers using Internet searches.
Allen’s spokesman says, “They are absolutely key processes that have become part of people’s everyday browsing on the web. ... We believe these are key processes for e-commerce and search.”
CNBC correspondent Dennis Kneale questions why Allen only decides to sue the technology giants now, and not years ago. After all, some of the defendants have used the technologies listed in the lawsuit for over a decade.
Dennis Kneale: “I think Paul Allen is feeling kind of, uh, dissed, you know? He never had a big pay-off.”
Dennis Kneale: “Paul Allen, a gifted visionary, the guy’s brilliant but he’s always too early.”
Dennis Kneale: “I really question whether Google and the like have violated anything at all.”
Matt Nesto: “I don’t know man, you said ‘It’s all about money.’ Patents exist for a reason, Dennis... We can’t just dismiss the fact that it’s all about money.”
PC World notes two major companies are missing from the lawsuit, even though they also use the technologies Allen has patented.
“Conspicuously missing from the list of defendants are Microsoft, in which Allen still has a substantial investment, and Amazon.com, which is based in the billionaire’s hometown of Seattle. When asked about how the defendants in the case were chosen, a spokesman for Allen refused to comment...”
So what do you think? Does Allen have a case? Or does he just want to shake up Silicon Valley?
