Microsoft and Google Sue Patent Troll

Microsoft and Google have filed a joint lawsuit against the Texas-based firm GeoTag. The companies intend to challenge its patent rights to technology used in mapping services.

The plaintiffs' statement stated that GeoTag has filed at least eight lawsuits against 300 companies that used mapping technology from Bing Maps and Google Maps. GeoTag accused the internet market leaders of infringing on its patented technology.

Microsoft and Google want a court to invalidate GeoTag's patent, "Internet Organizer for Accessing Geographically and Topically Based Information," or to rule that the technology described in it isn't infringed by Bing Maps and Google Maps.