the mythical successful patent troll spotted in the wild
BU settles patent suits with tech giants
Boston University has settled more than two dozen patent lawsuits with some of the world’s biggest technology companies, a move that could prompt more academic institutions to try to make money off their inventions, experts said.
BU settled with 25 companies, including Apple, Amazon and Microsoft, the school said yesterday, claiming the tech giants infringed on a patent the university held.
BU’s success could mean other research universities take steps to protect or license their patents, particularly with discoveries and inventions that are at the core of industries, said David Olson, a Boston College patent law expert.
“It may shape incentives to do that kind of research in foundational technologies or the next step in engineering problems,” Olson said. “This is absolutely encouraging.”
The patent at the heart of the lawsuits is for a technology used in creating blue LEDs, invented by BU engineering professor Theodore Moustakas in the 1990s.
“Our faculty are increasingly working with industry and finding practical applications for their work,” Gloria Waters, BU vice president and associate provost for research, said in a statement. “We will protect their intellectual property as they do so.”
BU initially had asked judges to halt sales of consumer devices including iPads and Kindles.
Five other cases alleging infringement of the same patent are pending.
Under the settlements, BU will receive an undisclosed amount of money, and will license the patent to RPX, a San Francisco company whose membership includes the companies that have settled suits.
BU spokesman Colin Riley said portions of the settlement would go to Moustakas, the school and its engineering department.
Olson said RPX, which aggregates patents and gives access to its members, makes it easier for universities to make money off their research.
“It’s encouraging the way the marketplace is growing up,” Olson said. “It certainly makes it easier for universities to monetize patents.”
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