A little more than a week after iOS developers were threatened with legal action by a company that holds various patents, Apple’s legal department has struck back.
Apple has sent a letter to patent-holder Lodsys after many iOS developers reported receiving letters containing a threat that they risked patent-infringement lawsuits if they didn’t pay Lodsys to license a patent covering in-app purchasing and other app-related matters.
In it’s letter, Apple says its existing license for patents covering in-app purchases applies to all iOS app makers as well.
The crux of Apple’s letter, from senior vice president and general counsel Bruce Sewell, is right in its opening paragraph, which reads in part: “Apple is undisputedly licensed to these patents and the Apple App Makers are protected by that license. There is no basis for Lodsys’ infringement allegations against Apple’s App Makers. In addition to stating that Apple would share the letter with developers—which it has—the company also says that it “is fully prepared to defend Apple’s license rights.” (for full article see Lex Freedman, Macworld).