Potentially bad news for Apple coming from Asia. A Taiwanese company called Elan Microelectronics Corporation (who?) has filed a patent suit against Apple (the news release is in English) a few days ago, saying they own two patents for multi-touch panels currently used in the MacBook, iPhone und iPod Touch.
Just another case of patent trolling? Hard to say. Elan claims Apple uses technology protected via American patents 5,825,352 (”Multiple fingers contact sensing method for emulating mouse buttons and mouse operations on a touch sensor pad”) and 7,274,353 (”Capacitive touchpad integrated with key and handwriting functions”).
The first patent (5,825,352) is especially interesting since a subsidary of Elan sued touchscreen maker Synaptics in March 2006 for infringement of that very patent. It took two and a half years for the companies to come to an agreement. The patent used to be property of Logitech, but Elan acquired Logitech’s touch pad technology division, thereby purchasing the patent with it.
Elan says it tried to negotiate with Apple “over a significant period of time” and now is forced to file the patent suit.
Apple is one of the biggest filers and litigators when it comes to frivolous patents. That, the outrageous prices, and lastly no user replaceable batteries have put me off Apple permanently.
Good to see them getting some their own for a change.
What! .. and they only speak up NOW!!!??
Anybody else feel like making a claim coz they need some extra money??
Gosh i hate these kinds of people!!
:-/
Sometimes it takes years to gather information and build a case. They also mentioned that they have been trying for a very long time to negotiate with Apple on this, and only now after making no head-way with them, are they filing. READ BEFORE POSTING!!!