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August 07, 2007
Lawsuits Target iPhone
By Tim Gray TMCnet Web Editor
For the second time in as many months Apple (News - Alert) has been hit with a legal suit, this time a company is charging Apple infringed on a patent used for its much-hyped iPhone.
The Florida-based company claims Apple’s latest must-have gadget uses a touch-screen keyboard interface that infringes on a patent they applied for in 2000 and were granted in 2004.
SP Technologies says its patent, which is registered under the description "method and medium for computer readable keyboard display incapable of user termination", is the same 'soft keyboard' style Apple is employing on its iPhone (News - Alert). The primary idea behind the keyboard is it can be activated on screen without any hardware.
SP Technologies is charging Apple was "willful and deliberate" while infringing on of its patent, and now is demanding royalties for each iPhone already sold.
The lawsuit was file in Tyler, Texas federal court, a district many insiders note has been home to a rash of litigation against technology companies. Most recently a case was filed there against Sony claiming the company was using patented technology for a cell CPU
used in its Playstation 3 Console.
The court tends to be a hotspot for patent litigation because of its perceived “litigation-friendly” atmosphere.
SP Technologies says it sent Apple notice in late February regarding the patent issue, but did not receive a response.
Now, SP Technologies is arguing that that by selling and offering to sell its iPhone through AT&T (News - Alert), which is a Texas-based company, and Apple stores located in the Texas district, the company is repeatedly committing infringement and continues to commit acts of patent infringement.
Last month Apple was hauled into court over a battery replacement policy the company was deceptive regarding the iPhone's battery replacement process.
This is the second law suit the iPhone has faced. Cisco has already sued over the iPhone, claiming it holds the rights to the name, but has since settled the issue.
Apple representative did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To see more of his articles, please visit Tim Gray's columnist page.
The Florida-based company claims Apple’s latest must-have gadget uses a touch-screen keyboard interface that infringes on a patent they applied for in 2000 and were granted in 2004.
SP Technologies says its patent, which is registered under the description "method and medium for computer readable keyboard display incapable of user termination", is the same 'soft keyboard' style Apple is employing on its iPhone (News - Alert). The primary idea behind the keyboard is it can be activated on screen without any hardware.
SP Technologies is charging Apple was "willful and deliberate" while infringing on of its patent, and now is demanding royalties for each iPhone already sold.
The lawsuit was file in Tyler, Texas federal court, a district many insiders note has been home to a rash of litigation against technology companies. Most recently a case was filed there against Sony claiming the company was using patented technology for a cell CPU
used in its Playstation 3 Console.The court tends to be a hotspot for patent litigation because of its perceived “litigation-friendly” atmosphere.
SP Technologies says it sent Apple notice in late February regarding the patent issue, but did not receive a response.
Now, SP Technologies is arguing that that by selling and offering to sell its iPhone through AT&T (News - Alert), which is a Texas-based company, and Apple stores located in the Texas district, the company is repeatedly committing infringement and continues to commit acts of patent infringement.
Last month Apple was hauled into court over a battery replacement policy the company was deceptive regarding the iPhone's battery replacement process.
This is the second law suit the iPhone has faced. Cisco has already sued over the iPhone, claiming it holds the rights to the name, but has since settled the issue.
Apple representative did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP
communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To see more of his articles, please visit Tim Gray's columnist page.
