The following piece may somehow convince people that patent wars are not a ‘once in a blue moon’ scenario. Dolby has filed a lawsuit against RIM for patent infringement associated with audio compression technology.
As per the litigation, RIM has allegedly infringed Dolby’s patents involving digital audio compression that allows for using limited space for audio storage or transmission. The BlackBerry smartphones and PlayBook tablet devices are apparently using the technology without obtaining a license from the affronted company.
“Litigation was regrettably our last resort after RIM declined to pay for the use of Dolby’s technology. We have a duty to protect our intellectual property,” shared Andy Sherman, executive vice president and general counsel of Dolby.
Considering the claim that Dolby’s technologies are guarded by patents, RIM may have to obtain a license for employing it on their devices from the former company. Dolby now seeks to withhold sales of the gadgets featuring the patented technology.
Dolby has apparently filed two lawsuits against RIM. The U.S. lawsuit was registered in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The German lawsuit was put in at the District Court of Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany.