NTP Sues Apple, Google, Other Smartphone Makers

NTP Inc., best known for getting a settlement from Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM, RIM.T) over email technology, is shifting its legal sights to a number of smartphone makers, including Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc. (GOOG).

NTP, which holds a number of patents but doesn't manufacture any products, filed a lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia against Apple, Google, HTC Corp. (HTCXF, 2498.TW), LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Motorola Inc. (MOT) over eight patents. LINK