Google Defeats Valtrus in Patent Dispute Over Search Engine Tech

Google has emerged victorious in its patent dispute with Valtrus Innovations Ltd. over search engine technology. A California federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, citing that the patents asserted by Valtrus cover ineligible abstract ideas and lack an inventive concept.

The patents in question are US Patent Nos. 6,728,704, 6,816,809, and 7,346,604. Judge P. Casey Pitts ruled that these inventions do not recite a concept that would avoid invalidity findings.

This decision marks the second time Pitts has dismissed a Valtrus suit against Google over these patents. The judge's ruling was based on the claim language, which made it clear that the asserted claims are ineligible and abstract.