It’s patent infringement allegation time again, and now it’s Apple and Microsoft on the hot seat. Emblaze, a conglomerate of technology companies, accuses Apple and Microsoft of infringing upon a “media streaming technology” patent.
According to a press release, Emblaze’s Live Streaming technology allows users to send live or pre-recorded audio and video to other devices, saves on data traffic, does not require devoted streaming servers and allows reliable streaming even through firewalls.
More specifically, Emblaze said that Microsoft’s IIS Smooth Streaming system was the culprit for that company. It appears Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming Application intended for use in Apple’s iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices, as well as in Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system, allegedly put that company at fault.
Emblaze said that it intends to use this technology in the “First ELSE,” a new mobile device recently unveiled by ELSE Ltd., an Emblaze subsidiary. Notices to Microsoft and Apple include offers to license under Emblaze’s patented technology.
The notice requires Microsoft to respond by March 15. A date for a response from Apple was not mentioned.
“Emblaze has made substantial investment into research and development to build a rich portfolio of intellectual property over many years. While we are happy to license our technology to third parties, we will vigorously defend our rights and our competitive position,” Naftali Shani, chairman of Emblaze, said in a statement.
There was no immediate response from either Apple or Microsoft.
Filed Under: Industry regulations
