Posted on 4 Apr 2013 at 09:43, by Gareth Halfacree
Apple is being targeted over claims that its iPhone and iPad product lines, including the upcoming iPhone 5S and iPad Mini 2, infringe upon messaging patents held by SkyTel in the US.
According to a filing made in the US court system, and publicised by Patently Apple, SkyTel claims that several of its patents on mobile messaging technologies are being infringed by Apple: patent 5,809,428 is allegedly infringed by Apple's iMessage service, which ships on the company's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices, while patents 5,590,403, 5,915,120 and 5,659,891 are allegedly infringed by Apple's AirPort wireless connectivity and TimeCapsule network-attached storage (NAS) products. Multiple other patents are also claimed to be infringed by Apple.
The patents, all fully granted by the US Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) cover basic modes of operation of Apple's iMessage and wireless networking hardware - meaning the company will be hard-pushed to avoid using the patented technology should a court find in SkyTel's favour. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, the parent company behind SkyTel, is going after Apple with a lawsuit filed in the Texas court system, and is arguing that any messaging capability - not limited to iMessage but potentially also covering the ability to send emails or text messages from a smartphone or tablet device - cannot be used without its patents being infringed.
While the legal action is at a very early stage - according to Patently Apple a judge has not been assigned to the case and Apple has not yet been asked to mount a defence - it's likely to be a major headache for the company as it looks to prepare its upcoming iPhone 5S, a device covered by the lawsuit, for launch while simultaneously struggling with delays to the development of its next-generation iOS 7 operating system, which would again form part of the alleged patent infringement when it launches.
Thus far, Apple has not issued comment on the case, but is likely to mount a spirited legal defence that will see it attempt to get the patents ruled invalid on the grounds of prior art and an overly broad application.
demi moore roy oswalt kevin martin 2012 senior bowl chuck series finale welcome back kotter 2001 a space odyssey
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.