Google countersues BT over alleged IP networking patent violations

[ ](http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/13/google-countersues-bt-over-alleged-ip-networking-patent-violations/)

Google isn't letting [BT's Android patent lawsuit](http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/18/british-telecom-is-the-latest-to-sue-google-over-android-other/) go unanswered, even if it's taking its sweet time. Over a year after BT struck first, Google has filed a countersuit against [BT](http://www.engadget.com/tag/BT/) that claims the provider is infringing four patents relating to IP-based conferencing and quality of service delivery. The search firm makes clear that its lawsuit is leverage for a possible truce: it's using the action as a "last resort" to fend off both BT and the patent holding companies that BT uses as proxies, according to a Google spokesperson. BT hasn't had a chance to respond -- or to be formally served, as of this writing -- but we can't imagine that a company which once sued over hyperlinks will simply agree to a stalemate.

Filed under: [Networking](http://www.engadget.com/category/networking/), [Internet](http://www.engadget.com/category/internet/), [Google](http://www.engadget.com/category/google/)

**[Comments](http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/13/google-countersues-bt-over-alleged-ip-networking-patent-violations/#comments)**

**Via:** [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/13/us-google-bt-lawsuit-idUSBRE91C1J920130213)

**Source:** [TechCrunch](http://techcrunch.com/2013/02/13/google-countersues-uk-telco-bt-over-patent-infringement-in-its-conferencing-and-ip-quality-of-service-products/)

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/13/google-countersues-bt-over-alleged-ip-networking-patent-violations/