雲端運算正夯，專利授權公司OASIS控告18家公司侵權

2010年08月30日，OASIS Research, LLC對AT&T 公司等18家雲端運算服務商提出專利侵權之訴，目前全案由美國德州東部聯邦地方法院負責調查審理。

本次系爭專利有四項：US5,771,354、US5,901,228、US6,411,943及US7,080,051，涉及專利為雲端運算相關，透過揭露之技術使用者可經由網際網路登入所屬帳戶，進而獲得服務商提供的線上資料存取相關應用與服務，以進行備份、儲存與下載等遠端操作。

本案原告的委任律師代表James C. Tidwell，曾任美光科技(Micron Technology)專利部門主管，前一份工作為Kirkland & Ellis LLP (成立於1908年，現為美國前十大律師事務所之一)之專利訴訟律師，據傳有意自創門戶成立小型律師事務所。

OASIS Research, LLC是專利授權公司成立於2010年06月，美國特拉瓦州註冊成立，而主要營業據點則設於德州馬歇爾聯邦法院旁的辨公大樓內。

本案四項系爭專利由發明人Christopher M. Crawford於1993年至2002年間提出申請，並於1998年至2006年間獲證。專利權原屬於Intellectual Ventures, LLC(專利控股公司)旗下之Intellectual Ventures Platforce Assets LLC(專利授權公司)所有，約於一年前進行專利權轉讓。Intellectual Ventures, LLC發言人Shelby Barnes已證實該專利權轉讓消息，但不透露兩公司間是否有財務關係。

關於Intellectual Ventures介紹，參見【創意工廠-Intellectual Ventures是機會還是威脅？】，特別是其營業模式(Business Model)之轉變。(445字；表1)

表一、專利訴訟案件基本資料：OASIS RESEARCH, LLC控告18家雲端運算服務商

Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理

後續追蹤報導：

2012年2月23日法院進行專利權利項語句解釋：

權利項語句： allowing the customer computer to access the remote storage area provided by the online backup service provider storage by integrating the second Internet connection for access by the customer computer’s file system
解釋： the second Internet connection allowing the customer computer to access the remote storage area substantially as if it were local and/or physically connected to the customer computer file system
專利號：5,771,354

權利項語句： archive
解釋： copying inactive files for offsite retention, rather than for backup
專利號：6,411,943
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： auxiliary storage
解釋： storage in addition to internal storage used either: (1) to store additional data or programs in the event of space limitations; or (2) to store data for the purpose of being used in case of data loss or failure of internal storage
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： backup/backing up
解釋： storing a copy of data for the purpose of being used in case of data loss or failure of internal storage
專利號：7,080,051
專利號：5,901,228
專利號：6,411,943

權利項語句： backup/backing up
解釋： storing a copy of data for the purpose of being used in case of data loss or failure of internal storage
專利號：5,771,354
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： backup, restore and/or archiving
解釋： service for performing at least two of the three options of backup, restore, and archive
專利號：6,411,943

權利項語句： billing the customer
解釋： generating information used to bill the customer
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： conditionally authorizing and/or restricting access
解釋： limiting the access of a customer
專利號：6,411,943
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： conditionally restricting at least a part of the customer’s access
解釋： limiting the access of a customer
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： establishing a communications link … using the Internet
解釋： establishing a connection resulting in a communication link over a worldwide network of computers connected together
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： establishing a customer identifier and associated password
解釋： 不要
專利號：5,771,354

權利項語句： establishing a customer/provider relationship
解釋： 不要
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： establishing a customer relationship
解釋： 不要
專利號：5,901,228
專利號：6,411,943

權利項語句： establishing a [first/second] online Internet session
解釋： establishing a connection resulting in a [first/second] communication session over a worldwide network of computers connected together
專利號：5,771,354
專利號：5,901,228
專利號：6,411,943

權利項語句： establishing a telecommunications connection
解釋： 不要
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： generating billing information
解釋： generating information used to bill the customer
專利號：6,411,943
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： logging
解釋： no construction necessary
專利號：6,411,943

權利項語句： making available, to the customer’s computer via the telecommunications connections, at least some of the storage provided by the online service provider
解釋： no construction is necessary
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： making available, to the customer’s computing device via the Internet link, at least some data stored in the online service provider’s storage
解釋： no construction is necessary
專利號：6,411,943

權利項語句： making available to the customer some of the data stored within the online service provider’s storage over the Internet
解釋： no construction is necessary
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： online processing
解釋： remotely manipulating customer data files
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： online service provider
解釋： provider of at least one online service
專利號：5,901,228
專利號：6,411,943
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： online services
解釋： 不要
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： online storage
解釋： storage available through an online connection that increases the amount of storage on the customer’s computer by storing files remotely rather than on the customer’s computer
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： provider of online backup, online storage, online processing
解釋： provider of all three of the services of online backup, online storage, and online processing
專利號：7,080,051

權利項語句： requesting payment
解釋： no construction necessary
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： substantially as if the remote storage area was a backup storage device physically and/or locally attached to the customer’s computer
解釋： such that the remote storage area acts substantially as a backup storage device physically and/or locally attached to the customer’s computer
專利號：5,771,354
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： tracking
解釋： no construction necessary
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： validating the customer identifier and password
解釋： comparing a customer identifier and password with the customer identifier and password stored by the provider
專利號：5,771,354

權利項語句： validating the customer’s authority/validating that the customer is permitted to access
解釋： comparing access information with access information stored by the provider
專利號：5,901,228

權利項語句： validating the customer’s authority/validating that the customer is permitted to access
解釋： comparing access information with access information stored by the provider
專利號：7,080,051
專利號：6,411,943

權利項語句： virtual disk/virtual backup storage resource/virtual backup storage device
解釋： an arrangement that simulates or emulates a locallyattached, physical device; for example, a virtual disk/resource/device can be an arrangement (e.g., some combination of local and/or remote hardware and/or software) that looks like a locally attached physical disk/resource/device
專利號：5,901,228