Apple Tells Patent Firm To 'Cease And Desist' Actions Against iOS Devs

Apple lawyers have countered patent licensing firm Lodsys' attempts to squeeze out royalties from iOS developers who have implemented in-app purchases in their software. Earlier in the month, Texas-based patent licensing company Lodsys contacted a number of App Store developers who have implemented an in-app upgrades model in their games, demanding a percentage of revenues made due to the use of a Lodsys' patent on the model. However, in a letter on Lodsys, as reported by MacWorld, Apple's senior vice president Bruce Sewell said that the company should "cease and desist from any further threats to Apple’s customers and partners". "As Lodsys itself advertises on its website, 'Apple is licensed for its nameplate products and services'," argued Sewell. "Under its license, Apple is entitled to offer these licensed products and services to its customers and business partners, who, in turn, have the right to use them." He continued, "The technology that is targeted in your notice letters is technology that Apple is expressly licensed under the Lodsys patents to offer to Apple’s App Makers. These licensed products and services enable Apple’s App Makers to communicate with end users through the use of Apple’s own licensed hardware, software, APIs, memory, servers, and interfaces, including Apple’s App Store." "Because Apple is licensed under Lodsys’ patents to offer such technology to its App Makers, the App Makers are entitled to use this technology free from any infringement claims by Lodsys." Although Apple has backed its App Store developers, it was not stated whether or not the company would defend them if the case went to court.