Kaspersky Lab squashes patent troll

Kaspersky Lab has won a lawsuit initiated by Lodsys, a company located in Texas that operates as a Patent Assertion Entity, more commonly known as a Non practicing entity or “Patent Troll,” known for initiating patent infringement lawsuits against a variety of companies.

Kaspersky Lab, along with 54 other companies including Atari, Symantec and Estee Lauder were originally named in Lodsys’ lawsuit. Of the 55 total companies named as defendants in the lawsuit, only Kaspersky Lab refused to settle out of court with Lodsys, and instead demanded the case be brought to trial.

On September 30, seven days before the trial was to commence, Lodsys withdrew its claims rather than facing the verdict of the court, and its lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice. Kaspersky Lab paid no money to Lodsys, and did not agree to any settlement terms.

“Our position is firm. No concessions to the trolling scum and IT racketeers. We call on all other IT companies to keep on fighting and not give up. Only then will it be possible to get rid of the patent parasites once and for all,” said Eugene Kaspersky, Chairman and CEO, Kaspersky Lab.

In May 2012, Lodsys filed a patent action against 55 companies in the USA. Lodsys claimed that each company was infringing on one or more of four patents, that pertain to collecting user’s perceptions about the product, including purchases, and upgrades with computer applications. 51 of those companies agreed to settle the case out-of-court.

The rest of the defendants were initially determined to fight against the lawsuit, however unfortunately they gave up just 10 days before the final trial hearings were to commence. The only company that stayed to assert its rights was Kaspersky Lab.  On September 30th, 2013, the court approved the petition from Lodsys to withdraw its claim and the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice. Kaspersky Lab maintains that it does not infringe on any of Lodsys’ patents, and that their patent claims are invalid.

It should be noted that more than 400 other companies, including large companies like Oracle as well as many small application developers, had signed license agreements with Lodsys before this lawsuit was filed. Through these agreements, Lodsys earns licensing fees whenever these companies use their allegedly-patented technologies.

Lodsys is currently involved in a number of ongoing lawsuits.

Staff writer