Mike Peterson
A $350 billion lawsuit that accused effectively the entire computer industry of patent infringement has been dismissed because an opening brief wasn't filed by a July 2 deadline.
In September 2019, plaintiff Mers Kutt filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. It alleged $350 billion in damages against more than 40 technology companies, telecom providers, and financial firms, among others. Apple was included at the top of the list.
After a majority of those companies filed opposing orders, a judge in March 2020 dismissed the case with prejudice. Kutt appealed that decision, but apparently failed to file an opening brief by a July 2 deadline. The lawsuit was tossed on September 1.
Kutt is a Canadian inventor who developed the world's first keyboard-based microcomputer through his company, Micro Computer Machines.
The original lawsuit concerned alleged infringement of two patents, U.S. Patent No. 5,506,981 and U.S. Patent No. 5,450,574. Both are titled "apparatus and method for enhancing the performance of personal computers, and concern microprocessors and clock speeds.
Kutt claimed that computers manufactured by some of the defendants — about 8 billion total products — included his patented technology to run faster. He contended that the damages committed in the case "far exceed typical patent infringement damages partly because it also addresses violation of antitrust laws, breach of agreements, obstruction, and theft."
Along with tech giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Samsung, Amazon and Intel, the lawsuit also accused smaller computer makers such as ARM Holdings, Acer and Nokia of patent infringement. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, JP Morgan & Chase, and Best Buy are also named as defendants, alongside "United States of America governments."
William Gallagher
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
Sponsored Content
17 Comments
We may be your friendly northern neighbour, but we have a few crackpots of our own. C'est la vie.
As a Canadian, I’m not sure if I’m more embarrassed by his moon-shot lawsuit, or his filing blunder.
I guess it is a case of go big or go home. Unfortunately for him he did both.
Just wonder, had anyone file patent for wheel yet?
Well, the man clearly needs professional help.