Mystery litigation hits IBM, Apple

The Hashimoto Corporation and Phonetel Communications is suing IBM, Apple and a string of other companies for alleged patent infringement. The action was filed on 18 March but details remain sketchy about the patents allegedly infringed. The plaintiffs are suing Apple, Bellsouth Products, IBM, Naft Inc, STL Electronics and US Electronics. Phontel creates and licenses intellectual property. Its mission statement is: "To license our current technology and to develop new patented solutions for the future. We are committed to help people better communicate around the world and to further the vision that Dr. Kazuo Hashimoto began over 40 years ago." ®