Amazon steps in on behalf of Best Buy in NPE patent suit
Amazon has intervened in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by a non-practising entity (NPE) against retailer Best Buy over the sale of the Amazon Fire Series tablets.
Corydoras Technologies filed the suit against Best Buy in September at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The NPE claims that Best Buy’s sale of the Amazon tablets infringes five patents covering core features of a “communications device” enabled with audio and voice communication.
Amazon is now seeking to have the suit dismissed, claiming that the suit reflected a “common strategy among patent assertion entities” which sees them target downstream retailers.
In a complaint filed at the US District Court for the Western District of Texas on Monday, November 11, Amazon said the NPE was trying to engineer a settlement out of Best Buy.
“By ignoring the manufacturer and suing retailers, a patent assertion entity can secure in terrotem settlements from retailers who decide they are ill-equipped to defend an unfamiliar technology and do not want their business relationships disrupted,” Amazon said.
Amazon has agreed to indemnify Best Buy, securing it from any liability, the Seattle e-commerce company said.
The company said it hoped its actions would protect Best Buy and other customers from “meritless patent lawsuits”.
Corydoras asserted a total of five patents, each entitled “Communication device”, covering what it claims are core features of the tablets.
These include the capability for “voice communication and remote control of another device”, which Corydoras said is covered by patent number 7,945,256.
Each of the patents list Iwao Fujisaki as the inventor, and cover features of audio and voice communication.
Corydoras has previously sued other major tech companies, including Huawei, Apple, Sony, LG, Asus, and Motorola, targeting products such as the iPhone.
Amazon is now seeking an extensive injunction blocking Corydoras from litigating the patents against Amazon or any of its customers over the Fire series.
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.
Today's top stories:
IPEC expands to seven new locations across England and Wales
