The HoloLens of Microsoft is first target in rash of AR patent suits planned

We see holding companies wielding infringement suits a lot to make money. Microsoft is the target of a fresh suit filed earlier this month with a company over its HoloLens technology that supposedly infringes on two holographic-image patents that have existed for more than 10 years. What’s more, this is only the first salvo of lawsuits associated with the patents.

HoloTouch copes in “human-machine interface engineering,” or even a means for people to interact with machines or apparatus without bothering them. The company has filed suit in the Southern District of New York, alleging that Microsoft has willfully infringed on both patents and is seeking a jury trial and triple settlement, which will be permitted in the event the jury finds that Microsoft understood that it was infringing on the patents, also did so anyhow.

The two patents, the following from 2004 and one from 2002, connect to interacting and images . Especially, patent ‘238 deals with a “method by which an operator may control one or more devices without touching a good control surface or object while still interacting with familiar controls that are visually sensed, including a keyboard.” Patent ‘245 copes using holographic human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and covers an innovation that’s intended to allow “the decrease in the energy consumption, weight and size of conventional holographic HMIs.” The latter, in basic description, seems like an precursor to VR headsets and current AR and technology.

Not only is the technology patented in the United States, it is also improved in Japan, Australia, Canada, the U.K., also patents pending in the European Union.

The suit claims that HoloTouch operates with original equipment makers (OEMs) to design and build prototypes using the patents. It offers licenses for the technology, and approached Microsoft working with back the tech in 2006. Microsoft didn’t react to the overture.

The “willful” aspect of this suit comes into play in 2013, when Microsoft supposedly filed its own patent in 2013, “mentioning HoloTouch’s patents as prior art.” If true, this is key in demonstrating knowledge. The suit alleges that in November 2015 and again in January 2016, HoloTouch contacted Microsoft about licensing the patents. This time Microsoft did react, stating it had reviewed the patents, but no licensing agreement ever materialized.

The suit goes into extra detail about HoloLens seems to infringe on the patents, pointing to every claim of this patent and pointing from the particulars of this HoloLens engineering that applies.

“Our company will vigorously pursue its statutory remedies against all who make the most of our revolutionary technology with no compensation provided by law, especially in light of current fascination with touchless, holographic controls and operation of apparatus using them across commercial spectra,” the company said in a press release.

It seems that Microsoft might be the first of many in the AR/VR space targeted by HoloTouch. The company stated that additional suits are being prepared, and can be filed against additional as-yet unspecified businesses.

HoloTouch was founded in 2002. The company site says that holographic light switches using its technology are set up in Greenwich Hospital and also Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut “where hygiene and durability are critical issues.”

R. Douglas McPheters, president of HoloTouch, advised Neowin that the company does not comment publicly on pending lawsuit or internal company practices. A Microsoft rep appreciated being revealed the suit, however, said the company had nothing.

Source

http://neowin.net/news/microsofts-hololens-is-first-target-in-rash-of-ar-patent-suits-planned

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