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5 March 2014Patents

Apple and Blackberry targeted in multiple patent lawsuit

A US patent holder has filed multiple lawsuits accusing several technology companies, including Apple and Blackberry, of patent infringement.

In complaints filed at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Penovia has asserted US patent 5,822,221 (221), which it acquired in 2010.

Among the 20 companies alleged to have infringed the patent are Apple, LG, HTC, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Acer, Blackberry and Casio.

The patent, "office machine monitoring device", covers a programme that transmits wireless messages to machines found in offices.

According to its specifications, it can be used on devices including computers, printers and photocopiers.

Texas-based Penovia highlights products including the Apple iPad, HTC Desire smartphone and Blackberry Bold 9000 as infringing the patent.

Penovia, a limited liability company, says it is the “sole owner” of the patent which gives it the right to “assert all causes of action.”

“Without license or authorisation … defendant has infringed and continues to infringe the '221 patent by making, using, offering for sale, or selling within this district and elsewhere in the US ... products or services related to office machine monitoring systems,” Penovia said in the complaint, filed on March 3.

Penovia could not be contacted immediately but it is not the first time it has instigated litigation.

In December last year, it asserted the same patent against companies including Samsung and Xerox.

According to Penovia, the patent was originally issued to a Dallas-based inventor called Frank Groenteman in 1998 but expired in November 2010 when he was unable to pay maintenance fees to the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Penovia later acquired the patent.

Penovia is seeking clarification of patent infringement as well as damages and attorney’s fees.

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