Amazon, Yahoo, Google Sued Over Automating Email

Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

Nuisance lawsuit? Perhaps. AOL, Amazon, Borders, Google, IAC, and Yahoo all stand accused of violating a patent on automatic message routing held by Texas-based Polaris IP.

The lawsuit charges the companies with implementing systems that “comprise interpreting electronic messages with rule base and case base knowledge engines” as described in the patent held by the plaintiff, “Automatic message interpretation and routing system.”

The lawsuit seeks an injunction against continued infringement. If granted — a remote prospect at best — the injunction would have a significant impact on the defending companies. Source: InfoWorld

We Say: Interestingly, or perhaps, tellingly, this patent has been in litigation many times, but the suits have always been settled. Looks like that’s what’s happening again.