This is getting to be a bit crazy, everyone sues someone else for something. Apple was almost sued for using the name "iPhone" and now this. Although I don't know much about how patents work and the laws behind them, I'm assuming that it is a lot of work to search through patents to find out if your tech infringes on someone else's. it is also a matter of time before every idea is patented, but I bet if that does happen, its far off...thankfully...

Weather or not IBM knew is the deciding factor in this. If I'm right, they didn't know. if I'm wrong, I still think it is crazy that you can make people pay to use your idea, especially if the other guy thought of it too, not just copied it...