Lodsys Responds To In-App Purchasing Patent Controversy

An anonymous reader writes "Last week, a heretofore unknown company named Lodsys sent FedEx packages to a number of independent iOS developers informing them that their use of in-app purchasing infringed on valid patents they owned. Now Lodsys has publicly responded to a number of issues/questions levied at them over the past few days."

One question though

[Nidi62]

Assuming this patent is valid(playing devil's advocate here), what would it mean to Apple's demands that apps allow for in-app purchases(that Apple takes a cut from)? Apple would essentially be requiring developers to use and therefore have to license this idea, and then pay the Apple royalties on top of that, would it not? Seems like this would be bad for Apple, as it would drive more people away from iOS and the app store, which would mean fewer fees and royalties for Apple.

And yet.

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

Their responses are all - naturally - based on the assumption that their claims are valid. However, they have yet to explain how their patent -- which specifically encompasses a method of providing feedback [slashdot.org] to content creators from content consumers... has relevance to an in-app upgrade purchase. Nothing of the sort is referenced in the patent. The suggestion that such a purchase is a form of feedback is specious at best: the customer is offering no suggestions for improving or changing the product (the common example specified in the patent itself), but is rather paying continue using or unlock already-existing functionality.