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This probably happens more than the public knows, but when news like this reaches us, it’s tough to let it slide as “just another lawsuit.” It’s even tougher when it comes from an industry like arts and crafts. It’s a patent suit brought on by Minvera Industries, Inc. Its founder, John Kim, won a patent case back in 2003 over those pieces of cardboard you put in your windshield in the summer to keep the inside of your car from frying eggs. Now he’s after one of Canada’s top companies.

This case centers around a patent Mr. Kim allegedly possesses that covers “advance features” on cell phone, “including how they connect to the Internet.” That seems like a broad scale, and we’d be very interested to see if Mr. Kim figured out how to develop this technology before everyone — and still kept it a secret.

Of course, there are allegations swirling about Minerva being a “patent troll.” What this means is a company that buys patents with the sole purpose of bringing lawsuits against larger companies. Minerva’s lawyers, however, say that the company is a holding place for Mr. Kim’s own patents, not those of others.

Mr. Kim has filed two other lawsuits: “one against a cellphone carrier; the other against 43 defendants, with Motorola Inc. tagged as the lead defendant — regarding the same patents.” At least he’s being consistent.

Mr. Kim is seeking up to 7 percent of wholesale BlackBerry sales, retroactive to 2004. We’re not quite sure how this one will turn out, but we’re always weary of a guy who comes out of nowhere and sues a company over patent issues. Seriously, if he had a patent on a method for phones to connect to the Internet, he would have made a lot more dough if he just developed it himself. We suppose this was just easier for him.

[Canada.com]

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