14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is often named in lawsuits over patent infringement, but the whole thing is getting serious right now with the United States International Trade Commission looking into one such possible violation.
A recent report reveals that the US ITC is investigating a potential violation of patents on several Apple devices, including not only the iPhone, but also Macs, iPads, iPods, and even the Apple TV.
The claims were first brought forward by Aqua Connect Inc. and subsidiary Strategic Technology Partners in October, when the two companies filed a lawsuit against Apple for violating several of its patents.
The two firms claim Apple implemented some remote controlling features in its devices without authorization, even though their software has been around for a long time.
At least two patents violated with iPhone, Mac technology
Remote desktop technology developed by Aqua Connect was first launched in 2007, but Apple decided to implement such capabilities in its desktop operating system in 2011 as “Screen Sharing.” The remote controlling features where then expanded to iOS devices as well, and now Aqua Connect and Strategic Technology Partners say all these solutions infringe on at least two of their patents.
The lawsuit documents reveal the patents are called “Updating a user session in a Mach-derived computer system environment” and “System, method and computer program product for updating a user session in a Mach-derived system environment.”
According to Aqua Connect’s websites, the company “has been delivering unique remote desktop solutions for Mac OS X since 2007. Most people know us as the innovators of the world's first Mac Terminal Server and also as the first company to license Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol for Mac OS X Server.”
Apple hasn’t released a statement on this new investigation, but the company typically remains tight-lipped on such cases, especially given that it’s one of the most sued firms in the entire world.