Originally published January 24 2006
Google Talk sued for patent infringement
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Google is being sued for patent infringement over Google Talk by Rates Technology. The company claims that Google has infringed upon two of its patents. Google Talk allows users to converse through their computers.
Google is being sued for patent infringement over Google Talk, its free internet telephony system.
If successful, the action could lead to Google's high-profile foray into communications being shut down.
The patent-holding company claims that two of its patents, dating back to 1991 and 1995, have been infringed.
Both relate to technology designed to minimising the cost of calls over the internet.
RTI has demanded damages and court costs, and an injunction to prevent Google using the technology.
Google's recent deal to buy a 5 per cent stake in AOL for $1 billion could help it sidestep the litigation.
The internet search and advertising company introduced its instant voice and text messaging system in August under the strapline: "They say talk is cheap.
It is based on VoIP software, which allows users to make voice calls through their computers and over the internet at a fraction of the cost of traditional services.
One of the pioneer companies in this field, Skype, was recently bought by eBay for more than $2.5 billion.
Google's system has been restricted to those who sign up for the company's e-mail service, which was also the subject of a legal wrangle earlier this year.
Google was forced to rename the service "Google Mail" in Britain after another company claimed copyright over "Gmail".
According to documents related to the patent case posted online by Search Engine Watch, the blog that first reported the case, a court hearing is to be held on February 3.
In March, The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a decision that dismissed a patent infringement action brought by RTI against Nortel Networks.
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