Elan Microelectronics Sues Apple Over Multi-Touch (or Multi-finger) Patents

http://www.techguru.com.br
Apple is being sued once again over touchscreen patents. Taiwanese chip designer Elan Microelectronics is suing Apple for allegedly infringing on two of its "multi-touch" patents for the iPhone, iPod Touch and MacBook. The suit was filed Tuesday in San Francisco's U.S. District Court. An Apple spokesperson declined comment.
Check this Elan video with Android device with multi touch capabilities and make your opinion
credits: http://www.emc.com.tw/twn/index.asp

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• android multitouch
• Elan Microelectronics
• apple
• iPhone
• multitouch
• multi-touch
• touch screen
• multi-finger
• illusion labs
• touchgrind
• table
• surface
• g1

[monez14]

Apple rips off everything and claims it as their own.

[DerrickWDavis]

They are even trying to sue (or have already) the company that makes an iPhone cradle called "Podium" becuase it has the word "pod" in it! Talk about proprietary! That is why I don't buy Apple products!

[Panglos]

Apple won this and settled out of court for fraction of the $100 million Elan was seeking. If you look at Elan's home page you'll see that they're actively involved in patenting, even purchasing companies just to get at their patents so they can sue. Their only non-China-based location is in a small business park in Cupertino, down the street from Apple. Do these leeches even make anything?

[mirawimmer345]

nice clip thanks for sharing i enjoyed it =)

[fidelis65]

wow apple is gonna get raped lol

[1zacster]

Has apple sued whoever made the j8? If you don't know what that is google it!

[vectraB97]

@jerrybmwm5 multi-touch technology is from 1982.. patented or not... why don`t they stop fighting about old crap and use the time to make better phones..

[jerrybmwm5]

The thing is that Elan multi-touch patent was published on 9/2007, three months after original iphone shipped. There is no case here. ITC will not rule in favor of Elan. Elan just want money. Period.

[kroneage]

@grafight Facts w/ no retoric or insults. In '98 Elan sued Logictech for Patents on multiple input tech in hardware. Was settled out of court w/ mutual licensing creating ElanTech. Elan then bought Logi's half, prior to suing Synaptic in 2006. Logi's Patents became Elan's in late 2007 & is part reason why they won against Synaptic. They'd given notice to Apple in early 2007 of patent violations. Then sued them last year, on the premise of "Prior Art"!

If ITC rules for Elan, they win! ;) Simple!

[grafight]

@kroneage You should know the history behind the mouse and GUI. Xerox Parc invented it but didn't want it, so Jobs improved it and turned it into a commercial success. Long before the iPhone launch in 2007 Apple was granted patents on the iPhone technology. Like I said, the courts with decide because neither you nor I have all the facts in this particular lawsuit.

Hint: calling me a dumbass or Jobs a Hitler adds no weight to your arguments. (just in case they don't teach that in fourth grade)

[kroneage]

Apple is attempting Technology Genocide against their competition and with that they've sealed their own fateful destruction! xD

[kroneage]

@grafight Dumbass, Elan warned them as early as March 2007. Prior to the launch of iPhone, as did Nokia. If you believe Apple, then you ignorantly believe they invented the mp3 player, the mouse, computer interface & now the tablet PC & the original phone (think Mr Bell would disagree on that).

The lawsuit against Apple has been on the books for a year. Since Nokia & others gave notice or sued them. But Jobs chose to ignore them all & claim patents on existing technologies! Steve's a Hitler!