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Texas firm sues Twitter over messaging patent

Thu Aug 6 2009, 17:13 PM UTC+01:00

Texas-based notification firm TechRadium is suing Twitter for infringing on three of its patents. The company claims it patented mass notifications in its work developing messaging systems for public safety organisations, utilities and the military.

Commentators point out that the patents are very vague and cover the whole concept of mass notifications rather than just the technology underpinning it. According to the lawsuit: “TechRadium develops, sells, and services mass notification systems that allow a group administrator or ‘message Author’ to originate a single message that will be delivered simultaneously via multiple communication gateways to members of a group of 'message Subscribers'."

A disproportionately high number of patent suits are filed in Texas due to the state’s record of generous settlements. TechRadium is unusual in actually being based in the state on the outskirts of Houston.

Twitter was aware of the threat of patent lawsuits as early as last February. Internal documents obtained by TechCrunch show the micro-blogging service’s management discussed the prospect of being sued “repeatedly and often” and considered hiring a lawyer in a bid to avert such suits.