Apple Tastes Own Medicine, Gets Sued For Multi-Touch

[xxMATTGxx]

Since the launch of WebOS, Apple has been blabbing at the mouth about how they’ll protect their company from others stealing their innovations. But they didn’t act for a LONG time. Then, last month, the entire thing popped up and HTC was the target in Apple’s crosshairs. Let’s recall how things have gone:

* Apple sues HTC
* We learn the lawsuit is really an attack on Google Android
* Google defends HTC


Apple thought they had such a HUGE advantage over HTC and this advantage is probably the reason HTC got thumbed instead of Palm (despite HTC’s history of innovation). But now Apple is getting a taste of their own medicine – the first two paragraphs of this GigaOM article say it all:

Elan Microelectronics filed suit against Apple with the U.S. International Trade Commission today, alleging that certain Apple products violate a multitouch patent previously awarded to the Taiwanese company. Elan in April of last year filed a related suit with the U.S. District Court in Northern California over the same patent — No. 7,274,353 — which it calls “a fundamental patent to the detection of multi-fingers that allows for any subsequent multi-finger applications to be implemented.”

By going to the ITC in addition to filing a patent infringement suit, Elan seeks to block Apple from importing its products into the U.S. that use multitouch, including the iPhone, iPod touch, MacBook, Magic Mouse and the iPad, which is due for release on April 3. Since Apple products are designed in Cupertino but assembled outside of the U.S., Elan is courting the appropriate trade commission that has authority to stop such products from reaching America’s shores. Notably, any ITC findings will be binding regardless of the patent lawsuit outcome, thanks to a loophole in U.S. patent law. Ironically, Apple is using this same strategy to try and block HTC from importing phones that Cupertino alleges violate its patents.

LINK: http://phandroid.com/2010/04/01/appl...r-multi-touch/


I actually laughed at this, Apple need to learn they cannot own everything in this world.

[Pyroka]

Lolzorz.

Serves em right

[Cheryl]

Lolzorz.

Serves em right

yeah tbf they've deserved it for so long

[AlexOC]

I don't like Apple.

Suprised they motto is not 'We're apple, and windows 7 was our idea'

[Oleh]

If maybe microsoft was to enter the touch market with their zune, i would most definatley invest in a 120gb zune

[Jordy]

If maybe microsoft was to enter the touch market with their zune, i would most definatley invest in a 120gb zune

They have got a touch Zune, the Zune HD and they announced a 64GB version yesterday I believe. Substantially cheaper than the iPod Touch too. Sadly though they don't sell it in the UK and it lacks decent applications.

[Oleh]

oh, i never noticed a touch cos ebay doesnt stock them

They should release games for it then. and a dev program for it

[HotelUser]

I actually laughed at this, Apple need to learn they cannot own everything in this world.

And some people would say I'm an Apple fanboy :S

[danzooo]

I'm a huge fan of Apple but I still laughed at this it does serve them right tbh, its kinda like a school playground situation; bully picks on little kid, little kid gets older brother 5 years above them to kick bully's ass.

[xxMATTGxx]

And some people would say I'm an Apple fanboy :S

Excuse me? I show no fanboyism in my post.