First off I want to say this whole patent thing going on everywhere is getting way out of control. Rotten Ogre’s (Yissachar) app Lonely Turret for the BlackBerry PlayBook  received notice that it infringes on a Lodsys patent relating to in-app payment and purchases.

Lonely Turret playbook game has a free and premium version, so it would make sense that in the free version he has a link to app world within the app if you would like to purchase the premium version and that seems to be the claimed patent violation. Yes a HTML link. Really??

“I never thought they were interpreting the patent so broadly,” Mr. Radcliffe said, adding that the free version of Lonely Turret simply contains a link to a BlackBerry app marketplace, where users can buy the premium version of the game. “It’s just a link … The two apps are entirely separate.”

According to Globe and Mail the company filing the suits  is known as Lodsys which has been on a tear with disputes over technology patents. In recent months, the Texas-based company – which doesn’t design or build anything, but owns a small number of patents – has sent licensing demand letters to dozens of large and small companies.

We have covered the Lonely Turret app a few times and dealt with Yissachar via email and its a shame he has to go through any of this at all. I am very curious to see if any other developers for the PlayBook will be getting letters also.

For the full details and info you can check out the source Globe and Mail article here.  (Yep I am using a Link)

Lonely Turret Details Protect your base from the attacking enemies. Buy turrets and move them across the screen to destroy enemies from all sides. You’ll need to use every turret at your disposal to deal with a wide variety of enemies.

Pricing
Lite Version Free

Full Version 0.99

Free Lite Version Available in BlackBerry App World Here

Full Version Available in BlackBerry App World Here.