Google and Groupon Sued: For, Existing?

Patent Troll – (n): “a person or company who buys and enforces patents against one or more alleged infringers in a manner considered by the target or observers as unduly aggressive or opportunistic, often with no intention to further develop, manufacture or market the patented invention”

Also known as: “Really? You’re suing Groupon and Google for basically existing? Good luck”.

A patent troll called Mount Hamilton Partners has apparently filed two separate patent infringement lawsuits against Groupon and Google (for their Google Offers service) for infringing on a patent they filed. Mount Hamilton claims to be an “investor in technology companies” and gathered media attention in May 2009 when it sued OpenTable right before they went public.

What’s the patent they claim is being infringed upon? U.S. patent 7,904,334, which is entitled “System and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak or.”

Mounth Hamilton Partners claims that services like Groupon and Google offers help restaurants fill unused seats and build direct relationships with those customers, increasing loyalty and doing so infringes on their patent, causing “irreparable harm”.

Basically, if your business helps restaurants also get business, they thought of the idea first and you owe them. Really? So, this “technology firm” is taking on the big dogs, for basically existing? Like I said, good luck. That’s like Ford suing Chrysler for also building cars. It’s just too broad!

The Mount Hamilton patent was filed for in May 2004 and wasn’t approved until early 2011. This will probably be thrown out before the damages sought in each case are even considered. Try again patent troll!