MobileIron and AirWatch in Good Technology's bad books

MDM vendor files patent infringement lawsuits against two of its competitors

The recent outbreak of mobile device patent spats has spilled over into the applications market with news that Good Technology has filed lawsuits against two of its mobile device management (MDM) rivals.

The vendor has filed two separate patent infringement lawsuits against MobileIron and AirWatch. The lawsuits centre on four patents covering core technology it first developed in the late 1990s that allow users to securely access email and other business data while mobile.

The lawsuit against MobileIron also alleges the firm engaged in a marketing campaign based on falsehoods and misleading claims about Good.

Good chief executive King Lee said: "Smartphones and tablets have become the most important and ubiquitous piece of technology we use in our daily lives.

"Good has pioneered the technology and products critical to the backbone and safety of these mobile devices, and these lawsuits are about two blatant infringers of our technology - MobileIron and AirWatch."

Founded in 1996, Good boasts more than 75 patents and claims it has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into R&D and marketing.

Good, MobileIron and AirWatch are three of only five firms positioned in the top-right hand box of Gartner's 2012 Magic Quadrant for MDM.

Good's offensive is the latest in a growing line of legal spats between vendors, the most high-profile being Apple and Samsung's ongoing court battle. As of last summer, analysis from Reuters found there were no fewer than 18 vendors in the mobile device and components space alone involved in at least one patent battle.