Graphics Properties sues Apple, Samsung, LG, HTC and Sony

Formerly known as Silicon Graphics Inc., now Graphics Properties Holdings grabbed global headlines when it filed lawsuits against some of the biggies in the business, for having allegedly infringed on their patents. Apple Inc.,Samsung Electronics Co, HTC Corp., LG Electronics Inc. and Sony now have lawsuits filed against themselves in the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware for allegedly infringing on Graphics Properties’ patents “through the sale of their mobile phones and other electronic devices”, which include Apple's iPhone and the HTC EVO4G, LG Thrill, Research in Motion Torch, Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy S II, and Sony Xperia Play smartphones.

Tough times ahead!

Graphics Properties Holdings, in their six separate complaints have alleged that the aforementioned brands have infringed on one of their patents that pertains to computer graphics process that turns text and images into pixels to be displayed on screens. The complaint also states that “...unless the alleged infringements are halted, it will suffer irreparable harm.” The report, however, failed to invite any response from the companies, hence the projected course of action in this case remains unknown. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refers to this patent to as “Display system having floating point rasterization and floating point framebuffering”, and the patent had been filed for by Graphics Properties Holdings Inc. on January 11, 2011. The patent number as registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is 8,144,158.

Graphics Properties Holdings, reportedly is seeking for halted sales of the infringed products, in addition to receiving reasonable royalties and other damages.Incidentally, back in 2009, then Silicon Graphics had filed for bankruptcy and had since sold much of their operations to Rackable Systems Inc. The remainder of their operations now reside in New Rochelle, New York, owned by private investment firms and other investors, according to the report.

Understandably, with such a wide gamut of products, which are also some of the better selling ones in the market, under the scope of a sales ban; the companies are sure spending sleepless nights.

Reuters