The Times reports that Google is being sued for patent infringement over its Google Talk service. Rates Technology Inc has brought a case in New York, claiming that the technology used by Google’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service infringes patents that RTI was awarded in 1991 and 1995. Even if the claim is successful though, it may not prove a major setback to Google since it now owns a 5% share in AOL which may enable it to use AOL’s internet speech technology.
The IPKat notes that Google has been in the wars when it comes to IP, with the Google Print controversy and the UK battle over the Gmail trade mark and now this. Perhaps this is inevitable though, considering the wide range of information-based services Google provides.