LBS訴訟再起

繼2011.3.1. Microsoft與Google連袂對GeoTag提起專利無效之訴後，2011.3.4.美國紐澤西州的專利控股公司LBS Innovations LLC向德州東部聯邦地院對16家廠商提出專利侵權訴訟。
本案的被告廠商亦是包羅萬象，但唯一的共同點就是這些商家都是在自家的官方網站上，使用Google map的定位系統，標示出零售通路店面的地理位置，此外，消費者也可以藉由輸入城市名稱或是郵遞區號，找到離自己最近的銷售點。

被告名單
Aaron Brothers, Inc.
Academy, LTD
Adams Golf Inc
Adams Golf, Ltd.
Comerica Incorporated
Compusa.com Inc.
Conn's, Inc.
Fossil Inc.
GameStop Corp.
Homestyle Dining LLC
Hotels.com, L.P.
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
Rug Doctor, Inc.
Stage Stores Inc.
TigerDirect, Inc.
Whole Foods Market, Inc.

US6,091,956
Title : Situation information system
Filing Date : 1997.7.12.
Issue Date : 2000.6.18.
Abstract :
A wireless system for providing services and time-critical information about places and events to mobile computers and their users proximate to their current locations or potential destinations within enclosed areas, urban landscapes, and open areas, including travel distances and transit times, entertainment, merchants\' messages, area attractions, communications, current locations of system users, and traffic congestion information and user-generated information from bar-coded objects and digital photographs of scenes and other materials. Included is a combination low-radiation dosage-reception handset for wireless communications which includes bar-code reader and digital camera peripheral devices for mobile computers, a bracket for interfacing a mobile computer with radio to external systems, and methods for improving the operations of computer reception, search, and display of such information for the edification, efficiency, and enjoyment of computer users.

Smart的看法
專利是一種排他權，排除他人使用、生產、進口、販賣,,, 的權利，為達此目的，訴訟的策略通常是找大咖的軟柿子比較容易獲的利益，所以本案與GeoTag一樣，其實目標都是Microsoft與Google，但是，告的都是下游使用者，逼使他們不用這些定位服務。本案Microsoft與Google會不會再跳出來挺他們的使用者，值得觀察。