Rates Technology (RTI), a company that owns several internet voice communication patents, is suing Google for $5 billion claiming the search giants" Google Talk software uses two RTI patented technologies without licensing them. The suit, filed in October in US District Court in the Eastern District of New York, seeks damages in compensation for "irreparable damages" caused to RTI. Court papers claim RTI had notified Google of the infringement and offered to drop legal action had Google agreed to license the technologies, but the offer was refused. In response RTI is demanding a trial by jury to settle the matter in court.
Google spokesman Steve Langdon has said the company believes the lawsuit is "without merit" and plans to fight it.