This patent thing is getting out of control. Lodsys, which has been going after app makers over in-app purchase patents, is acting like one of those dastardly pigs and is going after the Angry Birds maker Rovio.
Rovio has seen more than 300 million downloads of the game throughout the world on multiple platforms and it has huge ambitions going forward. It recently raised $42 million in order to build up its business in its march to an IPO.
One of the ways it is trying to build up its business is through in-app purchases like the Mighty Eagle but Lodsys’ patent issue may get in the way of that. Rovio hasn’t responded officially to the complaint but other Lodsys incidents involve in-app purchase patents.
It’s unclear what will happen with Lodsys, as it already has licensing agreements with many of the major platform makers but are still going after the individual app makers too. It is also going after Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive and Atari for violating its patents.
[Via BBC]