Windows Phone Thoughts: Honeywell Sues 34 Companies over LCD patents

Here we go again. There's another patent problem pending and this time the primary protagonist is Honeywell. They are taking legal action against 34 companies, including Dell, Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Fujitsu, Sony and Toshiba, Nikon, Olympus, Fuji Photo Film, Casio and Kodak. At least they are picking on someone their own size. ;-). Apparently Honeywell filed a patent in 1992 which covers LCD panels components and many companies are now infringing this patent:

"It covers a LCD's "directional diffuser" - essentially the filter used in many LCDs to increase the angles at which the screen can be viewed. It's a technique used throughout the LCD world, across a range of devices, such as notebook PCs, LCD monitors and TVs, PDAs, mobile phones, digital cameras and so on. Anyone found to have infringed the Honeywell patent will have to face the company's demand for monetary damages and a ban on sales of infringing devices."

The Register points out that many of the companies named in the suit don't actually manufacture LCDs themselves, but buy them in from their suppliers. Still, someone's got to pick up the tab on this one and guess who that will be? Anyone fancy higher prices for Pocket PCs? :?