Apple’s top patent lawyer quits as legal battles heat up

By on Jul 12, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Legal July 12, 2011

Apple’s chief patent lawyer will soon leave the company amid ongoing legal battles with Samsung and HTC, among others. Attorney Richard “Chip” Lutton Junior currently manages Apple’s extensive portfolio of patents, but not for much longer according to a report on Tuesday from Reuters. The lawyer is leaving Apple for reasons unknown according to Reuters’ seemingly well-placed anonymous source, and B. J. Watrous will replace him. Watrous, formerly Hewlett-Packard’s deputy general counsel, is already listed as Vice President & Chief IP Counsel for Apple on his LinkedIn profile. Apple has sued a number of companies around the world recently for patent infringement, including Samsung, HTC and Nokia. HTC responded to Apple’s most recent patent complaint by stating that the company should focus on competing in the market instead of constantly suing its competitors.

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  • Jesster King

    [insert Dave Chappelle crazy cackling voice here]

    Its a sad day when all the BS and corporate speak gets to a high payed lawyer.

  • Anonymous

    They probably saw his android phone and asked him politely to leave…

    • Anonymous

      Phone and tablet playing around on Google+!

  • Anonymous

    I can picture the poor guy leaning back casually in his office chair with a worried look on his face, nodding his head and calmly saying “I can’t take this dumb $#!+ anymore. I’m done.”

    I can imagine it being a particularly hot seat to be in, but Apple’s actions are both excessive and childish. That’s just my opinion. I know others would disagree.

    • Anonymous

      why would he be worried? android infringes on patents from oracle, microsoft, apple, and a slew of other companies.

      HTC and samsung are currently paying microsoft for each android unit sold. What makes you think apple has a disadvantage? They have a strong case.

  • Bringit

    He’s tired of companies stealing his companies shit and then complaining about getting sued over it.  It’s well documented.

  • Anonymous

    He aint going down with the ship..

  • Anonymous

    I can picture him saying the money aint worth this sh**….. This is riduculous

  • Steve Hillshire

    APPLE BAD!!!!!!  THE EVIL EMPIRE IS CRACKING!!!!!

    • Anonymous

      the guy probably got offered a job he couldnt refuse, he successfully owned the entire smartphone industry. HTC and samsung will be paying apple just like they are paying microsoft right now

      android is a patent infringing piece of shit if you havent noticed yet.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7CMPHZK6NAZ2SK62SDZIWCUDYI Somsi

    Apple has the advantage over all brands.

  • Mt112000

    this explains why they only release products once a year…the other time they are too busy digging for information on trying to sue people

  • Asfasf

    The reason Apple is taking legal action against all three companies is because they are trying to rip off Apple’s patents. 

    Instead of making there own stuff they are copying Apple’s successful engineering. Just look at the Galaxy S, its a direct rip off. 

    They are just a bunch of thieves trying to get there hands in Apple’s cookie jar, so Apple is trying to slap there hands away. They should go bake their own cookies.

    • http://twitter.com/jackrazzlin Jack Azlin

      Used Windows 98? Apple directly ripped off the square icons at the bottom of the screen. OMG!?!?!?!?!

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