Tech Crunch outs Apple as feeding a patent troll

In keeping with its strategy for world domination in consumer electronics, (and more relevant to AndroidNZ, the world of mobile devices), Apple has surreptitiously transferred a dozen patents that it previously "owned" to a non-existent corporate entity called Cliff Island LLC.

Tech crunch have done a little digging and it appears that Cliff Island is a shell company, sharing a physical address with Altitude Capital, the main investor behind patent trolling company Digitude Innovations (ironic name, n'est pas?).

Cliff Island then transferred those same patents to Digitude who have now filed a suit with the ITC (International Trade Commission) in the US against basically all the smartphone and tablet makers selling in America - except Apple, that is. How mysterious.

So what we're seeing here is Apple suing its competitors out of the market, yet again, but this time by proxy. And it's interesting that the patent transfers have taken place under some sneaky back-room sleight of hand.

The whole article and its links to a Forbes piece on Digitude can be read at the Tech Crunch site. It's worth a look at just how out of control Apple has become, and the folks at TC deserve the clicks for their excellent effort in bringing this to light.

This seems to be a case where the US DOJ may yet be involved. Interesting times.

Source: Tech Crunch