This is interesting, these guys (http://www.visto.com/about/ip.asp) are after a load of companies, check this out
http://www.manatt.com/Attorneys.aspx?id=1437
# *Visto Corp. v. Research In Motion (E.D. Tex.) – Patent infringement action pending against RIM in the Eastern District of Texas (Marshall) involving the Visto patent portfolio. RIM is the provider of the Blackberry wireless messaging hardware and software.
# *Visto Corp. v. Good Technology, Inc. (E.D. Tex.) – Patent infringement action pending in the Eastern District of Texas (Marshall) involving the Visto patent portfolio. Good is the provider of GoodLink wireless messaging software.
# *Visto Corp. v. Seven Networks, Inc. (E.D. Tex.) – Patent infringement action pending in the Eastern District of Texas (Marshall) involving the Visto patent portfolio. Seven is the provider of Sprint Business Connection software and Cingular Xpress Mail software. The parties are awaiting entry of final judgment following a jury verdict of infringement in favor of Visto earlier this year.
This is a bit close to my heart .. the Patent seem a bit vague and not specific … how they can justify all these actions is interesting … maybe the patent system in the USA has a small flaw … looks like the only people that will make money out of this are the lawyers :-| # Visto Corp. v. Microsoft (E.D. Tex.) – Patent infringement action pending against Microsoft in the Eastern District of Texas (Marshall/Texarkana). Visto holds a portfolio of patents directed to wireless messaging and email, calendar and contact synchronization, including U.S. Patent No. 6,085,192, which recently emerged from reexamination. Microsoft recently announced Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) for Windows Mobile 5.0 and Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Direct Push technology in MSFP and Exchange Server 2003 SP2 is designed to allow Exchange Server to send messages and other PIM information directly to Windows Mobile 5.0 devices over the air (OTA) through wireless accounts.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6023708.html
A system uses a global translator to automatically synchronize multiple copies of a workspace element across different formats between multiple sites in a secure network environment, independent of whether the sites are protected by site firewalls. The secure network environment includes a global server connected to multiple clients. The system includes a first store for storing a first workspace element in a first format, a second store for storing a second workspace element which is an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element in a second format, a communications channel coupling the first store to the second store, synchronization means for synchronizing the first workspace element and the second workspace element, and a translator for translating between the first format and the second format.
Actually looks like this has been going on for a while .. check this out: http://whohastimeforthis.blogspot.com/2005/12/truth-behind-vistos-lawsuit-against.html
flaphead.com 