FROM ARTICLE LAST YEAR BY Austin Modine

Some of the patents cover a lot of basic ground and have the potential to touch a large number of gadget makers, if the lawsuit is upheld. For instance, the '774 patent describes a solid state recording device with a control switch and microphone. The '108 patent covers memory being broken into a number of blocks in which data is stored.

E.Digital is asking to bar the companies from further infringement, unspecified compensatory damages and additional monetary relief.

"Digital recording on to flash memory has become a standard in portable electronic products," stated senior veep of e.Digital, Robert Putnam. "e.Digital created and patented important intellectual property in the use and utilization of flash memory in portable electronics products that we believe is being widely used in cell phones, cameras, camcorders, PDA's and other popular devices without our consent."

Patent troll or not — this in-flight entertainment firm apparently has big plans to take on even more companies that incorporate flash into their products. ®