New Apple Patent Lawsuit over iPhone Technology

iPhone World:

Apple faces yet another legal battle over the iPhone concept and technology. This time it’s Minerva Industries, which targeted not only Apple but also RIM, and a satellite phone company, Atlantic RT Inc. among others, with one of three lawsuits filed on Tuesday, after just beating out rival patents filed by Apple itself.

The patent in question, USPTO patent No. 7,321,783, gives a brief description of a “mobile entertainment and communication device”, and outlines a palm-sized device used “for recording data directly from the Internet” that “also includes a camera and microphone for recording images and sound”.

Minerva believes that Apple was keeping tabs on their patent application (which records show was filed in November of 2003), and waited until the last minute to provide prior art concepts in an attempt to hinder this application, while boosting one of its own claims. Minerva states they informed Apple of their patent application last November.

Both sides were reviewed by the US Patent Board which ruled in Minerva’s favor, determining that their device was patentable. Minerva claims that Apple’s attempt at claiming its patent invalid has caused them to “[suffer] monetary damages in an amount not yet determined”. In addition to paying said damages, they are also seeking a permanent injunction stopping Apple from further infringement on Minerva’s patent.

The other two Minerva Technologies lawsuits filed that day target 31 defendants in total, including Research in Motion, AT&T Mobility, LG, Palm, and Motorola.

Thanks: Apple Insider

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