Apple sued for patent infringement - SP Technologies claims patent over iPhone’s virtual keyboard
Posted by Will on Monday, August 6th, 2007 at 12:54 pm under iPhone, Apple, Technologies, Devices
Let the frivolous lawsuits begin! Well, actually, they already did. But this latest suit is more of the patent-infringing type of lawsuit that corporate legal beagles love to dream up. Apparently, SP Technologies is claiming a patent over the Apple iPhone’s virtual on-screen keyboard and is seeking “reasonable royalties” from Apple.
Just what kind of legal basis does SP Technologies have for this alleged patent-infringement? The company claims that they hold a patent for a “method and medium for computer readable keyboard display incapable of user termination.” Right, that sounds exactly like the Apple iPhone’s keyboard.
It seems that the language of their patent would cover a host of other devices that have been on market for some time now. So, why did SP Technologies single out Apple in its lawsuit? Because the iPhone is such a hit. If Apple does indeed sell 10 million iPhones, those “reasonable royalties” add up to a sizable chunk of change.
Way to go SP Technologies, give it the good old college try. Just don’t go crying to mommy and daddy when you’ve spent all your allowance on this little legal adventure.
[Via: iPhone Central]
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umm “virtual keyboards” have been around since the 1970s. Unfortunately judges and lawyers are techno-ignorant greed mongers.
Chasing ambulances is at least sort of a public service.