In the legal labyrinth of patent infringements, Amazon finds itself facing another formidable challenge as a research university’s allegations reverberate throughout the federal court.
The Gavel Drops in Favor of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
In a decision that resonated like a sharp rebuke to the e-commerce giant, U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes ruled on Friday that Amazon couldn’t shake off the lawsuit aimed at its popular voice assistant, Alexa. At the heart of the case lies Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) claim, amplified by CF Dynamic Advances LLC, that Amazon’s Alexa encroaches upon their patented language processing tech.
Diving deep into the murky waters of licensing rights, the court concluded, “RPI retained ample rights in the ‘798 patent, including the right to supervise sublicensing deals and to take legal action against patent infringements if CF Dynamic decides against it,” as articulated by Judge Sannes.
The Echo of Previous Arrangements
Peeling back the layers, RPI once exclusively licensed the patent in question to Dynamic Advances LLC. This baton of licensing rights later passed to CF Dynamic Advances LLC, which stands alongside RPI in the current legal fray. Notably, the two plaintiffs, CF Dynamic and Dynamic Advances, operate without mutual affiliations.
