"Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee (SLE)?" Think again. Swiss company Nestle has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois-based food giant, claiming patent infringement of the Nespresso coffee system. While the Swiss are known for staying neutral, Nestle felt compelled to seek legal action in an effort to protect its highest-selling product.

Nespresso is the business model that keeps on giving ... once customers buy one of the high-end machines, they also need to buy capsules of blended coffee (available in 16 varieties of varying flavors and intensity). The machines run from $199 to $599 and the capsules are about 55 cents apiece (which provides one cup). That 12-cup-a-day habit can add up quickly.

Continue reading Nestle Sues Sara Lee over Patent Infringement

Nestle Sues Sara Lee over Patent Infringement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Eastman Kodak (EK) is grabbing headlines after the film firm filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), alleging that Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and Research In Motion Limited's (RIMM) BlackBerry camera phones infringe on Kodak's patents. Kodak is asking the ITC to block Apple and RIMM from importing the offending devices.

Additionally, the iconic photography company filed two suits against Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Kodak is claiming infringement of patents "related to digital cameras and certain computer processes."

Continue reading Kodak Alleges Patent Infringement by Apple, Research in Motion

Kodak Alleges Patent Infringement by Apple, Research in Motion originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A judge in Texas has ordered Microsoft (MSFT) to stop selling some versions of its Word software in the United States within two months. This follows a May decision that found Word infringes on a Canadian tech firm's patent.

The offending programs are Word 2003 and Word 2007, which seem to have borrowed technology on how to encode and display information. In addition, MSFT was ordered to pay $290 million to the Canadian firm i4i for damages and interest. The judge also issued an injunction that will take effect in 60 days, this move will not allow MSFT to sell Word products including the patented technology.

Continue reading Microsoft fined $290 million in a patent ruling

Microsoft fined $290 million in a patent ruling originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: When complacency becomes concerning (AET, AIG, JBLU, TIVO, VLO)

Closing Bell: When complacency becomes concerning (AET, AIG, JBLU, TIVO, VLO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Bears getting braver (OPEN, LDK, STP, QCOM, RF, PETM)

Closing Bell: Bears getting braver (OPEN, LDK, STP, QCOM, RF, PETM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nintendo's Wii sees patent infringement claims originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• This year, the International Trade Commission is set to issue rulings on whether Samsung and Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) have infringed patents from InterDigital Inc (NASDAQ: IDCC). If InterDigital, who licenses its patents to iPhone maker Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), wins, fees from the deals could double its revenue over the next few years, the Wall Street Journal contended.
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that Macy's Inc (NYSE: M) is among the retailers that include The Home Depot Inc (NYSE: HD) and Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) to stop making its monthly disclosure of retail sales.

• According to FDA commissioners, the New York Times reported that Baxter International Inc's (NYSE: BAX) critical blood thinner heparin, which has been linked to nearly 20 deaths and whose base was created in China, contained a "possibly counterfeit" ingredient that "mimicked the real drug."
• In his opening arguments in the state of Alaska's lawsuit against Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE: LLY), an attorney for the state alleged the drug maker failed to warn doctors and patients of dangerous side effects associated with its drug Zyprexa, the Associated Press reported.

Newspaper wrap-up: Patent win may boost multimedia phone supplier originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has banned imports of some cell phones containing chip technology from Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM). The ITC has said that the ban covers cell phones that infringe on a patent held by Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) and that were imported for sale after June 7. The majority of the cell phone import world is up in arms, claiming that the ban will do irreparable harm to the American consumer. Frankly, those that choose to infringe on patents shouldn't be importing technology they aren't ready to sit on when discovered.

James Gerace, spokesman for Verizon Wireless, claims that the ban "essentially attempts to freeze innovation in cell phones." A more accurate interpretation would be that the ban seeks to freeze piracy that circumvents innovation. A Red Herring article says that Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) has openly declared that it expects to sell 5 million phones this year that contain the infringing technology. That's a pretty bold statement by Sprint, and in light of the current ban, I think it's a pretty stupid statement also. That would be similar to me stopping at the local police station to tell them I plan on driving over the speed limit for 500 miles this year.

AT&T (NYSE: T) doesn't seem to care much about the cell phone ban. It has plenty of handsets available that don't contain the infringing chips. AT&T thought ahead and based the majority of its offering on a different technology. Might we call that decision prudent?

Meanwhile, as the pirates cry and whine about appeals and a stay of execution, Broadcom has eloquently made clear that it will consider discussion about licensing of the patent.

Who's afraid of the Qualcomm chip? 'Not me' says AT&T originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.