British Telecom (BT) has filed suit against Google, arguing that the search giant's Android operating system infringes on six of its patents.
The suit covers a variety of Google services, including Google Maps, Google+, Google Music, and more.
"BT brings this action to recover the just compensation it is owed and to prevent Google from continuing to benefit from BT's inventions without authorization," BT said in its suit (below), filed Thursday in a Delaware district court.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Patent blogger Florian Mueller broke down the six patents BT is asserting, the first of which covers a product that relies on Wi-Fi or network connectivity, like Google Music and Android Market downloads.
"Google Music maintains data relating to whether a particular music service is available or unavailable to its user based on whether is located in, and connected to, a WiFi hotspot or a cellular data network," BT said.
The second patent covers a system, like Google Maps, that provides up-to-date information over a mobile connection, including public transportation data, tourist attractions, and traffic information.
The third patent covers services generated via user preferences, which Mueller described as "broad." On this, BT mentions Google Maps, Google Search, Google Places, Google's location-based advertising, Google Offers, and Google+.
The fourth patent deals with an information service that stores customer data and is "essentially, a digital rights management patent," Mueller wrote. The Android Market, for example, "utilizes user identities in Google's servers," and keeps a list of things, like Android apps, that a user can access.
The fifth patent goes back to mapping, particularly one that can alter its results based on transportation systems—Google Maps results for driving, walking, or taking public transportation, for example.
Finally, the last patent deals with location-based information, particularly that provided via Google Maps and Google Maps Navigation.
According to Mueller, BT is the fifth large, publicly traded company to file a patent suit against Google after Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, and eBay.
"Android already had more than enough intellectual problems anyway. Now Google faces one more large organization that believes its rights are infringed," Mueller wrote. "BT probably wants to continue to be able to do business with all mobile device makers and therefore decided to sue Google itself."
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