Stantum, the company which we know for their multi-touch technology, recently announced that the European Patent Office and the China Patent & Trademark Office have granted patents (EP1719047 and CN100447723C, respectively) to Stantum on its multi-touch technology. This comes as an extension to the original patent filed in France in February 2004.
From the press release:
The patents describe a method and a system for controlling electronic devices by manipulating graphic objects on a transparent multi-contact touch panel. Beyond the process enabling the detection and tracking of an unlimited number of simultaneous contact points on a touch screen, the patents disclose various multi-touch interaction techniques, such as applying specific behavior to graphic objects according to finger gestures.
Now we’ve no clue how this will affect any legal battles between handset manufacturers on one, and Stantum on the other side, but we’re certainly hope it won’t stifle the innovation.
Stantum’s CEO, Etienne Paillard, said that the patents granted in Europe and China are further acknowledgement of Stantum’s pioneering position in the field of multi-touch technologies. “Moreover, they strengthen our intellectual property rights in geographic areas that account for about 40 percent of the global gross domestic product,” he added.