Apple sued for stealing touchpad idea

Apple and other companies are being sued for stealing the idea for the touchpad interface.

The touchpad idea represents an important advancement in the evolution of the interface between human users and portable electronic devices. It's also a coveted feature and a much-hyped gimmick. It has been one of the key unique selling points of Apple's branded consumer products.

Apple has been singled out in the lawsuit as the worst offender. Tsera complains that Apple knew of the patent’s existence as long ago as September 2004, but has been and “continues to be wilful, wanton and deliberate” in its use of touchpad technology, “carried out with full knowledge and awareness of the Plaintiff’s patent rights and without license from the Plaintiff”.

20 July 2009

Tags: apple tsera company ipod iphone touch pad touchpad touch screen patent infringement patented intellectual property touch pad infringing stolen infringed idea technology news consumer electronics portable devices hand-held law suit suing case microsoft lg companies business law invention invented