Lodsys accuses Android developer of patent infringement
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Lodsys, the technology company recently rebuked by Apple for sending threatening letters to app developers with accusations of patent infringement, has once again accused a developer of infringing upon its patents -- but this time for the Android platform, according to CNET.
From a conversation thread on Google’s Android developer forum, it appears that at least one Android developer has received a letter from Lodsys alleging infringement related to patents held on technology that enables users to buy services or virtual goods within an app.
‘We recently implemented in-app purchases for our Android application,’ the developer of the Tank Hero app wrote, ‘and several weeks later we received a letter from Lodsys, claiming that we infringed on their patents. We are obviously a small shop and are not financially capable of defending ourselves over a litigation.’
Lodsys’ letter to Tank Hero follows similar missives sent to iOS developers this month alleging infringements on four of its patents connected to the ability to make in-app purchases, CNET said.
That prompted Apple to send a letter of its own, reminding Lodsys that in-app purchases were part of its software development kit and mandatory for developers to use if they chose to build paid extras into their apps, according to the blog the Loop.
‘Apple is undisputedly licensed to these patents and the App Makers are protected by that license,’ wrote Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell, according to the Loop. ‘There is no basis for Lodsys’ infringement allegations against Apple’s App Makers’ and the company is ‘fully prepared to defend Apple’s license rights.’
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-- Shan Li
