Bluetooth technology is now facing legal challenges. Bluetooth technologies, for those who don’t know allows a user to wear an earpiece which allows the user to talk to someone on their cellphone without actually holding the cell phone to there ears. It also gave us the ability to appear like we’re talking to ourselves.

But that’s besides the point. A lawsuit has been filed by the Washington Research Foundation. This foundation basically holds patents for various universities and institutes. They allege that electronic companies: Samsung, Nokia and Panasonic have violated four patents held.

The patents were filed between 1996 and 2003 and covered “certain RF receiver technology used in that wireless data communication system known commercially as ‘Bluetooth technology’ “. The patents were originally held by Edwin Suominen, an undergrad at the University of Washington at the time, where he developed the technology.

[via unstrung.com]