Another day, another lawsuit. As noted by AppleInsider, non-practicing entity (in other words, a “patent troll”) VoiceAge EVS, LLC is suing Apple, claiming that the iPhones infringe on audio-related codecs.
VoiceAge EVS is a company that holds the rights to audio encoding patents developed by the separate VoiceAge Corporation, including intellectual property related to Enhanced Voice Services (EVS). EVS, developed by a handful of firms, is an audio coding standard developed for Voice over LTE (VoLTE) calls. The company claims that Apple has indirectly infringed on its IP by encouraging and facilitating customers to use the technology. According to AppleInsider, VoiceAge EVS wants a jury trial, as well as damages “not less than a reasonable royalty,” attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses.
By the way, a patent troll is an individual or an organization that purchases and holds patents for unscrupulous purposes such as stifling competition or launching patent infringement suits. In legal terms, a patent troll is a type of non-practicing entity: someone who holds a patent but is not involved in the design or manufacture of any product or process associated with that patent.
