While yesterday's suit concerned enterprise services, the UK finding reveals that Google is using Motorola patents to go after BT, claiming it is making infringements in its IPTV services and its set-top boxes.
Software patents are also particularly broad and vague, and that makes infringement difficult to avoid.
Napster was nailed, at least in part, for simply making infringement possible and not doing anything to stop it – something known as "vicarious infringement".
Until recently, patent trolls have predominantly wielded utility patents, making infringement demands tied, albeit loosely, to the value of the technology or functional contribution to the product.
rules, which make patent infringement grounds for costly trade sanctions.
However, device makers like Dragon Box or SetTV have been using the open-source Kodi platform and other add-ons to make copyright infringement easier for consumers.
Today's debate, he says, is too focused on the negative aspects of tinkering in the virtual world such as making copyright infringement possible, or developing products that unfairly compete with the original.
Google has also made separate infringement claims of its own against Microsoft.
U.S.-based companies have long been governed by a 1998 act that makes copyright infringement illegal.
The AP has a history of making copyright infringement claims that push the boundaries of the law.
