Boston U. Patent Lawsuits Hit Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Others 147
curtwoodward writes "First, we heard that Boston University — a private, four-year school overshadowed by neighbors like MIT and Harvard — was suing Apple for patent infringement. Well, sure, patent lawsuits in tech are an everyday thing, right? But it turns out this is not a one-off: BU has been quietly filing a barrage of patent lawsuits since last fall, all of them revolving around the same patents for LED and semiconductor technology. And the targets run the gamut, from Apple and Amazon to Samsung and several small companies that distribute or sell LEDs and other equipment. A couple of small guys have settled, but Amazon and Samsung are refusing. Still to come: Apple's response."
Re:Not a troll on the surface. (Score:5, Informative)
Is it's a US patent, the entity that imports the infringing item gets sued.
You can't sue someone in China to manufacturing it.
Re:Not a troll on the surface. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Not a troll on the surface. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Not a troll on the surface. (Score:4, Informative)
There are two parts you missed:
Except as otherwise provided in this title . . . any patented invention . . .
You only quoted part (a) of US 271 [cornell.edu] which deals with direct infringing of a whole invention. Part (c) deals with contributory infringement of a part:
Whoever offers to sell or sells within the United States or imports into the United States a component of a patented machine, manufacture, combination or composition, or a material or apparatus for use in practicing a patented process, constituting a material part of the invention,knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use, shall be liable as a contributory infringer.