Microsoft is facing a patent infringement lawsuit over the technology used in its mixed reality headset HoloLens.
According to Engadget, the Connecticut-based company HoloTouch has come forward, alleging that the HoloLens’ imaging tech infringes on two of its own decade-old patents. HoloTouch also says it reached out to Microsoft about a possible partnership as early as 2006 without response.
The company again reached out in 2015 and 2016 to discuss a licensing agreement for its own patents, something Microsoft reviewed and declined at the time.
The court documents detailing the suit say that Microsoft filed a patent for the tech used in the HoloLens in 2013, citing HoloTouch’s patents as “prior art”, something that the suit says is evidence that Microsoft was aware of patents it is now accused of infringing on.
One of the allegedly infringed patents covers everything from holographic image generation to specifics of projecting and interacting with holographic input devices such as keyboards. Across both patents, HoloTouch says Microsoft has willfully infringed on 13 claims overall.
As a result, HoloTouch is seeking a jury trial in hopes of being awarded damages from Microsoft for the alleged infringement, though no amount was given in the initial filing documents.