A tiny Brighton company filed a lawsuit Wednesday against 26 companies, including computer giants Apple, Google and Microsoft, claiming the technologies they use for voice control infringe on a patent filed in 1998.
The company, Potter Voice Technologies, claims to have registered a patent titled “method and apparatus for controlling a digital computer using oral input.”
According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, Apple knew of the existing patent and its contents when it acquired Siri Inc. as its voice control technology for iPhones. It makes a similar claim about the other voice-control features, including Google’s Google Voice Actions found on some Android phones.
If Potter can prove the other companies’ technology infringes on the Potter technology, and that the companies knew about the Potter patent, the Brighton company could be entitled to a larger settlement.
Potter has asked for damages to be determined during a jury trial.
Among some of the other companies named in the suit are Samsung and Sony.
Potter is represented by the Palo Alto, Calif. offices of The Lanier Law Firm and in Denver by Ryley Carlock and Applewhite.
Lawyers and company executives were not immediately available for comment.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
