Tech News Buzz: Charges against Apple, Google, Yahoo and Facebook "They use technologies patented by others"

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Charges against Apple, Google, Yahoo and Facebook "They use technologies patented by others"

Bitter end of the year for Apple and for the giants of the Internet, from Google to Facebook, Yahoo to Netflix, the online DVD rental service and video games. Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, in fact back to the office to claim the authorship of some technologies used by these sites.

Allen had already attempted legal action last August to demonstrate that they have the original patent: By its action, however, was rejected by the court for lack of precise references to such technologies. The Huffington Post, one of the first sites to report the news, he wonders if this time the billionaire will have better luck.

To do so, Allen has compiled a detailed list of all cases in which Apple and companies use, without permission, the technologies patented by his company. Among the applications mentioned, for example, is the system that the user brings up the suggestions of other sites while you are browsing a web page.

Allen is confident that the accuracy of its application can convince the judge to proceed in the case, claims that the invention of these technologies to be recognized and paid for by those using it. But Google retort: "This is a new attack against one of the most innovative companies exist," confirming the "unfortunate trend in an attempt to prevail in the courtroom rather than the market." The initiative is in addition to Allen's legal class action that could begin soon against Apple.

On 23 December, in fact, a citizen of Los Angeles, Jonathan Lalo, filed an initial appeal against the house of Cupertino, who would be responsible for allowing violations of privacy: according to Lalo, the two "toys" Apple transmit personal information to advertisers through a number of applications for iPhone and iPad, like Pandora Radio, Paper Toss, The Weather Channel and Dictionary.

com. Apple denies categorically that the transmission of personal data will really happen without your permission. But, according to head Bloomberg report, the applications send some information on age, ethnic origin, sexual orientation and other sensitive data. 2011, therefore, did not begin auspiciously for the company nor the apple, nor for the other four giants of the Web but it is still early to determine whether allegations of Allen and Lalo cases will become the new year.