Apple Sues Motorola Over Multi-touch Phone Infringement

By: Leslie Horn 10.31.2010

Apple has filed infringement suits against Motorola, saying that Multi-Touch smartphone uses Apple-owned intellectual property.

Patently Apple was the first to report that Apple two separate suits against Motorola that include six different patents. The suits mostly pertain to Motorola's next generation smartphones, specifically the Droid, Droid 2, Droid X, Cliq, Cliq XT, BakFlip Devour A555, Devour i1, and Charm.

We like competition as long as they don't rip off our IP," Tim Cook, chief operations officer for Apple said last year at a financial conference.
"Obviously Apple thinks that Motorola has crossed that line."

What Apple is saying is that Motorola basically copied the iPhone. Court documents said Apple has a problem with "smartphones and associated software, including operating systems, user interfaces, and other application software designed for use on, and loaded onto such devices."

It's likely Motorola saw this countersuit coming. This isn't the first smartphone maker that Apple has sued. The company has taken similar action against HTC for its Android phones. Earlier this month, Motorola filed its own suit against Apple and NeXT in order to protect its product in suits that cover more than 18 different products,

Apple is seeking maximum damages including all royalties earned from the sale of the phone.

It's important that Apple safeguard its technology. iPhone sales comprise 39 percent of Apple's earnings, and the iPhone 4 was introduced to 17 more countries this year, which helped to expand Apple's revenue base.

When the iPhone 4 was launched in China, the device flew off the shelves, almost immediately. Due to problems with scalpers, the flagship store in Beijing was forced to shut down briefly.

Apple recently jumped into the list of top five, leapfrogging RIM for the number four position.

Microsoft has also sued Motorola, alleging patent infringement on its Android-based devices.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371822,00.asp

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