Microsoft co-founder sues Google and Apple

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, has sued 11 companies for patent infringement, including Google and Apple. According to Allen, the 11 companies are infringing four of the patents he owns.

One of the patents describes a technology to show readers of a website content suggestions, such as reports The Wall Street Journal. The other three patents also describe linking content, such as videos, news articles, stock information, and advertisements, that is related to what the reader is presented with. In addition to Google and Apple, Facebook, Ebay, AOL and Yahoo, among others, are said to have been sued by Allen.

The technology described in the patents comes from Interval Research. This company was financed by Allen with $100 million, making him the owner of the patents. A Google spokesperson said his company sees the lawsuit as an attempt to compete in court, rather than making competing products. A Facebook spokesperson said the charges were unfounded and that his company would vigorously defend itself against the patent claim. The other companies have not yet responded to Allen’s claim.

Most patent cases do not result in a judge’s decision; usually deals are made whereby companies with licenses regulate the use of each other’s patents.