May 1, 2013 - CopyTele, a non-practicing entity that monetizes and enforces patents, filed a patent lawsuit against Microsoft over the alleged infringement of two patents. CopyTele claims that Skype, which is owned by Microsoft, infringes two patents related to Web-based secure peer-to-peer communications.
The two patents-at-suit are a "Method and apparatus for securing e-mail attachments" and "Portable telecommunication security device." Both patents issued in 2005.
The Skype lawsuit is the second suit CopyTele has initiated. CopyTele filed its first patent lawsuits in January against AU Optronics and E Ink Holdings for infringement of electrophoretic display technologies, and bought two more patent portfolios in April.