14 DAY TRIAL // The iPhone has amazed the world with its sophisticated multipoint touchscreen. Now, Apple is being sued because of the most important feature which has made this device arouse the interest of so many people.
Apple might have attracted more attention than it previously intended, with the introduction of the iPhone concept. This new lawsuit is the second they have been filed against lately and many others might come in the future. It is not unusual to see this type of negative reaction for such a popular device, although Apple probably didn't see it coming.
Still, the complainants have declared that they filed a notification to Apple some while ago, back in February. It looks like the company has decided to overlook it and proceed with preparing the iPhone for its launch. For this reason, the company considers that Apple has deliberately used their patent in building the smartphone.
SP Technologies LLC, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, said Apple's iPhone uses a patent issued in 2004 for a "method and medium for computer readable keyboard display incapable of user termination". With this in mind, they have filed a complaint yesterday in federal court in Tyler, Texas.
The company has asked for a "reasonable royalty" on all iPhones that Apple sales to make up for their loss. Moreover, they want an issue to be ordered for permanently blocking Apple from using this technology without their permission. Sounds like a serious situation threatening the iPhone's producer if the court decides that it has stolen the concept from SP.
Apple has made no comment on this new charge which has been brought against them. Just a few days ago, the company found itself caught in another lawsuit. An iPhone owner sued them for not previously announcing the fact that the handset must be sent back for battery replacement after only 300 charges.