Still fighting, NTP sues Alltel over patents

Alltel Communications L.L.C. is the latest major mobile-phone carrier to be tagged with a patent infringement suit by NTP Inc., the Virginia-based patent holding firm that scored a $612.5 million settlement with Research in Motion Ltd. in 2006 before setting its sights on top cellular operators.
The suit, filed in federal court in Richmond, Va., alleges eight patent violations regarding mobile e-mail services and appears virtually identical to complaints lodged by NTP last fall against AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA Inc. Those actions as well as an NTP suit against Palm Inc., according to NTP, have been stayed pending completion of patent reexamination proceedings by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“The infringing Alltel products and services include, for example, its line of handheld devices, organizers, PDAs, cellphones and smartphones, together with related software applications and wireless data services, that are capable of sending and receiving e-mail messages, and its wireless service that utilizes a RF [radio frequency] information transmission network to provide service for products manufactured by other entities,” stated the 20-page suit.
Alltel spokesman Andrew Moreau said the carrier had not yet been served with the suit and therefore could not comment.
Meantime, the Bush administration remains hopeful that a stalemate in the Senate on patent reform legislation can be resolved. However, some observers regard the measure dead for the year. The House already has approved a patent reform bill.
Earlier this month, in an op-ed published by The San Jose Mercury News, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez stated: “We can do better than this. I believe there is a way forward to pass legislation that improves our patent system – already the envy of the world – and addresses some of the concerns raised by many patent holders and industries.”