SimpleAir is seeking $125 million in damages from Google after a jury found that push notification services in Android infringe on a SimpleAir patent, the company said Tuesday.
Google infringed SimpleAir’s patent with its Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) and Android Cloud to Device Messaging (C2DM) services, SimpleAir said in a news release. These services are used by Google to process and send instant notifications for Android applications, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail, it added.
The jury found all five claims of SimpleAir’s 7,035,914 patent on a “system and method for transmission of data” valid and infringed by Google, according to the jury verdict that was filed with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, on Saturday.
The jury however was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the amount of damages to award for Google’s infringement, SimpleAir said, adding that a separate jury will decide on the amount in a limited second trial. SimpleAir seeks damages in excess of $125 million.
Google declined to comment on the case but one of Google’s attorney’s asked for mistrial on all issues, a court document showed.
SimpleAir describes itself as an inventor-owned technology licensing company. The company holds five patents titled “System and method for transmission of data,” a search of US Patent and Trademark Office records shows.
Its patent portfolio is licensed by several technology companies, including Apple who settled a patent lawsuit with SimpleAir in May 2012 when the companies entered into a confidential license agreement. Earlier in 2012 SimpleAir entered into a similar agreement with Blackberry and in November last year, Microsoft also entered into a confidential settlement and license agreement with the company.
Loek Essers, IDG News Service
@loekessers loek_essers@idg.com
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