Google sued for $5 Billion over VoIP patent

New York-based patent firm Rates Technology Inc. is suing Internet Search giant Google for patent violations, in the VoIP software which Google uses in its Google Talk VoIP chat application.

The AFP report says Rates Technology Inc. is asking for $5 Billion in damages from Google for unauthorized use of two patents for VoIP software.

Rates Technology CEO Jerry Weinberger was quoted as saying that he was the inventor of a software program which allows telephone calls to be placed over the internet. Weinberger cited that 120 companies, including Lucent, Cisco, IBM, Yahoo and Microsoft, have paid Rates Technology Inc. to use the technology for VoIP.

Google has been notified of its patent infringement and given a chance to remedy the situation by licensing technology from RTI, "but has refused to do so," the company said in a suit filed in Long Island District Court 2 months ago.

Rates Technology Inc. is demanding a trial by jury to settle the suit, according to court papers.

Google spokesman Steve Langdon said the lawsuit is 'without merit' and that google does plan to fight it.

Rates Technology Inc. could not be reached for comment Friday.