patrick.net

"It is a very broad-based patent," said Louis Solomon, the attorney representing Tornetta. "We are seeking reasonable royalties that conservatively run into the hundreds of millions, plus interest. Given that the Federal Circuit has significantly expanded the liable parties, the damages will go up significantly."

At least they are being reasonable.

US Patent No. 5,032,989, issued to Mark Tornetta back in 1991.

The patent should have expired in 2011 at the latest. So he's going for "damages from the past?

This suit is as ridiculous as patenting "sending information over the Internet". Those who filed the suit should have to spend some time in jail including the lawyers who should also be disbarred. That's the only way we are going to stop this destructive use of patents.

Right now there's near zero costs for companies to use ridiculous patents as weapons and there's no accountability when they do.