Rates Technology sued Google in October over the Voice-over-Internet-Protocol component in Google Talk, but Google’s investment in AOL could render that moot.
A little-known patent holding company called Rates Technology has popped up in the public eye. Search Engine Watch found out about a complaint filed in October against Google by Rates over the VoIP technology in Google Talk.
The suit was filed in the Eastern District of New York and alleges infringement of two patents obtained in 1995 and 2001. Rates is seeking patent enforcement, damages plus court costs, and an injunction against Google’s using the technology.
An initial conference before the court has been set for February 3, 2006, according to the docket posted on the SEW site. Also, further information listed by Gary Price in the report about Rates said the company licenses technology to several hundred companies, and has litigated with 15 of them.
One factor that could help Google is its arrangement with AOL. Among the details of the $1 billion investment Google will provide to Time Warner for 5 percent of AOL included a mention that Google Talk and AIM clients would be able to talk to each other. AOL has a VoIP service called TotalTalk, and if Google could license that technology from its new partner, it could help in resolving the case with Rates.
—
Email the author here.
Add to document.write(“Del.icio.us”) | Yahoo My Web
David Utter is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business.
