Microsoft Sues TomTom over Navigation/File Management Patent Infringement

Microsoft has tried to engage TomTom in licensing the patents for over a year with no luck, so the time has come to go to court. This is just the third time Microsoft has gone to court to allege patent infringement (the company been on the other end of such suits, however).

There are two separate filing alleging infringement of eight patents, five related to navigation and three to file management. ITWire reports the file management patents are key parts of TomTom’s implementation of the Linux kernel. The filings are before the U.S. District Court in Washington and the International Trade Commission. The former are aimed at gaining payment for damage, the latter to block future imports of infringing products.

This is not a good time for TomTom to have to go court; the company warned this week it may default on its debt incurred to acquire Tele Atlas. (MarketWatch)

Update 2/26/09: Thursday morning TomTom “rejected” the claims without elaborating. (Dow Jones)

- C|net