Uh-oh, it looks like both Apple and LG could be in trouble after Alcatel-Lucent’s Multimedia Patent Trust filed a lawsuit against both companies alleging that they infringed upon patents with regards to video compression technology. According to the patent trust’s attorney, Frederick Lorig, it seems that they have given Apple and LG a chance to license their patents but both companies did not do so, while claiming that 33 other companies have already licensed their patents and have paid about $190 million in licenses to date.
The devices named in the lawsuit includes Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iPod and MacBook computers, while the LG devices that are allegedly infringing upon the video compression patents include the Chocolate Touch VX8575, Bliss UX700, Touch AX8575, Lotus Elite LX610, Mystique UN610 and Samba LG8575. According to Apple and LG, the MPT has been paid for the technology on a pay-as-you-go basis, and are claiming that the trust is trying to extend the coverage of their patents by including new technology, with LG claiming that the MPT are trying to “double dip” and are suing for technology they do not own. The trial is expected to conclude in two weeks, so hopefully we will be able to know more by then.