Barnes & Noble Sues to Block LSI Patent Royalty Claims on Nook

On June 6, Barnes & Noble Inc. filed suit in the Northern District of California against LSI Corporation (“LSI”). The move was to preempt an infringement allegation from the  chipmaker who is demanding patent royalties on sales of the Nook digital reader. Finnegan partner Bob Yoches provided insight into the changing book industry and technology, “If you're a book company, you never get sued…Then you move online and you get sued a little bit. Now you've got an electronic box. As you add features, it becomes more like a computer.” Mr. Yoches also offered commentary into how “electronic devices are more frequently the target of patent suits and royalty demands because the products typically include thousands of features and circuits, many of which are covered by patents.”