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A small Florida-based firm is suing iPhone maker Apple Inc, alleging that handset's new touch-screen keyboard interface infringes on patent claims dating back over 7 years.
Specifically, the 4-page suit charges that Apple's iPhone keyboard interface treads on four claims outline in an August 4th, 2000 U.S. patent titled "Method and medium for readable keyboard display incapable of user termination."
The 7-year-old filing describes a "method of providing a user interface for receiving information from a user using a user immutable graphical keyboard linked to an input area, [...] invoking the graphical keyboard on a touch screen display to receive input from a user, and [...] maintaining the graphical keyboard on the touch screen display such that the user cannot move, resize, remove, or close the graphical keyboard through the user interface while the input area remains and requires input."
SP Technology argues that by selling and offering to sell its iPhone through Apple and AT&T stores located in the Texas district, Apple has and continues to commit acts of patent infringement.
"Apple’s advertisements, operating instructions and product descriptions direct users to purchase and use the iPhone as called for in the asserted claims," the firm wrote.
In return for Apple's "willful and deliberate" infringement, SP Technology is seeking damages adequate to compensate for the number of iPhones sold thus far, as well as a permanent injunction prohibiting the company from further infringement.
Apple's iPhone Keyboard Interface (left), A concept drawing from SP's patent (right).
Although Apple has yet to formally respond to the suit, chief executive Steve Jobs in January confidently claimed to have patented nearly every aspect of his firm's iPhone interface through a series of more than 200 patent filings.
Update: InformationWeek notes that Peter V. Boesen, the owner of the patent in question, is a surgeon who was recently sentenced to 51 months in federal penitentiary for defrauding the healthcare system.
"Civil court records show that Boesen, through SP Technologies, has filed a number of patent suits in the past, including claims against Canon, LG Electronics, and Kyocera."
In the case regarding the healthcare system, Boesen was ordered to repay the state and private insurers more than $900,000.
"Boesen is free pending an appeal," wrote InformationWeek. "No word on whether he is using an iPhone to text his lawyer."
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33 Comments
Patent infringement is the only way to find out if anything is patented these days. There are so many patents it would take forever to search through them all.
Apple can more than afford to be sued.
Zzzzzz...
This is a repost from one I made last night on this topic.
Here we go again. Another lawsuit by a Florida company, SP technologies, contending an infringement of its 2004 patent. The company claims the patent describes a "method and medium for computer readable keyboard display incapable of user termination." Groan. It's being filed in--you guessed it--Tyler,Tx, the frivolous patent infringement capital of the US.
Between blatantly false rumors last week fueled by shoddy reporting on the part of the financial press, ,ensuing Bear raids by Hedge funds and frivolous lawsuits, AAPL is under siege by unethical groups seeking to capitalize on its success. It could use a healthy dose of good news this Tuesday. In this jittery market stoked by FUD masters (we even have at least one on this board), these incidents are insidious.
Wow, a patent for an on-screen keyboard.
I think I'm going to file a patent for all kinds of edible material made from plant matter.
Hmmm, on screen touch keyboard?
Are they serious?
- these things have been around for as long as touch-screens have been in existance
- I've worked on quite a few products with these in them - if Apple wants to give me ring, maybe I can help them out!