Business in Virtual Worlds, Virtual World Platforms

Virtual Worlds May Be Sued For Patent Infringement

Worlds.com has lowered the gauntlet on virtual worlds, claiming that virtual worlds employing ““Scalable Virtual World Chat Client-Server System” or a “System and Method for Enabling Users to Interact in a Virtual Space” are infringing on their patents.

Worlds.com, which bills itself as “the pioneering platform in 3D virtual communities and rich immersive environments” has brought in the lawyers, announcing that:

Earlier today General Patent Corporation, a Suffern, New York based Intellectual Property licensing and enforcement firm, announced that it has retained the Westfield, New Jersey law firm of Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP to work on behalf of Worlds.com, Inc. in regards to enforcing Worlds.com’s patent portfolio.

According to Virtual Judgment:

“General Patent Corporation and Worlds.com are taking the position that the above-referenced patents cover the idea of the computer architecture for a three-dimensional graphical multi-user interactive virtual world systems. If so, this announcement is arguably a very thinly veiled notice to the virtual world industry that infringement suits are forthcoming for those companies who do not enter into a licensing deal with General Patent Corporation and Worlds.com.”

If legal notices are in the mail, expect a sudden chill on investment in virtual worlds and sudden late night legal sessions at the Lab.

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