No-name firm files suit against Apple and other handset makers for patent infringement

In our land of the lawsuit-friendly legal system, it’s no surprise that we’re hearing of another no-name company coming out of the woodwork with a patent-infringement case. The latest patent-infringement suit comes from Delware-based AutoText Technologies.  A 32-page complaint was filed against 23 companies that AutoText Technologies claims infringed on a 1994 patent for a computer-based transcription device. Apparently, the AutoText patent covers any device made in the US with a display, keyboard, storage for vocabulary, and method for sorting keywords by frequency.

Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) has been named in the suit for infringing on AutoText Technologies with Mac OS X Tiger, the Safari web browser, and related products. Other high-profile companies named in the suit include HP, IBM, HTC, Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Palm (NSDQ: PALM), Microsoft (for its Windows Mobile 6 OS), and carriers like AT&T (NYSE: T), Helio, and Verizon (NYSE: VZ). Game console manufacturers Nintendo and Sony have been named in the suit for their Wii and PlayStation 3 systems, respectively.

AutoText Technologies is seeking a a minimum of a royalty from each company and is seeking damages.

Good luck, AutoText. We don’t have high-hopes for your case – we’re thinking you might get a settlement out of some of the bigger players. But, that’s what you were going for in the first place, wasn’t it?

[Via: Apple Insider]