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Lawsuit may threaten iPhone sales

by Cory Bohon Feb 27th 2008 at 5:00PM

Apple just keeps getting hit with lawsuits this month. AppleInsider reports on yet another new lawsuit seeking to bring the iPhone down. Romek Figa of Abraham & Sons filed a 5-page complaint in a Massachusetts district court that alleged Apple violated a patent from 1990. The patent is described as a way for a phone to look up an incoming number and match it with a stored contact, allowing the phone to display the stored contact information.

However, the 1990s-based patent references technologies such as a two line LCD and separate receiver. Figa's complaint requests that Apple be tried by a jury; and if he were to win, Apple would have to stop selling the iPhone and further infringing on the patent. He is also seeking damages for Apple knowingly infringing on the patent.

This suit seems to be a little "over the top," meaning that most phones already do some form of this to retrieve information from a contact list and display it for an incoming call. At least, that's the case with every cell phone I've had. Why hasn't this suit had an impact on any other cell phone manufacturers? What do you think about the suit? Be sure to express your opinions in the comments!

[via AppleInsider]

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Apple just keeps getting hit with lawsuits this month. AppleInsider reports on yet another new lawsuit seeking to bring the iPhone down....
 

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HZC

I don't think that common sense should be patent-able. If you put 100 school kids to figure out how to take an incoming phone number and display the name of the person that's calling, at least 99% would come up with the same concept. If I have a contact list and the ONLY thing that comes across via Caller ID is the phone number, how else could I look up the name? All this proves is that the troll has learned some SQL. Seesh.

February 28 2008 at 3:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Damage

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/02/28/mass_man_suing_apple_over_patent/

According to this article (and his lawyers), MOTO, Samsung, Nokia all have licenses for this patent, and that Apple was offered a licensing deal. Also, he also enforced his Patent against VTECH (they make landline phones, whatever day are), and both settled out of court.

This thing has legs, and Apple is about to get pwn3d, as the parlance goes.

February 28 2008 at 2:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Howie Isaacks

Absolutely ridiculous. Whey have these people not sued every other phone manufacturer? Wireless phones have had this capability for a very long time. I think companies like this are just sitting and waiting on the slightest hint of a patent infringement so that they can make their pathetic nobody companies profitable without producing anything of use to the public.

February 28 2008 at 2:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sam

Americans are so lucky, they have the right to lodge suits like this. Seriously, the guy should be arrested for being either criminally stupid or just for chancing his neck and wasting time and therefore money.

February 28 2008 at 10:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

Make that tires. ;)

February 28 2008 at 2:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

I would love to get this guys contact info and bombard him with hate mail.

Maybe even teepee his house.

And/or pop his tired. Teehee.

February 28 2008 at 2:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
AlfaTLima

Is it scary to anyone else that these people are just walking around in public? Another good reason to lock your doors at night...

February 28 2008 at 1:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim

I think the guy suing is a prick.

February 28 2008 at 1:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan Sandberg

Holy cow. I know it's been on every phone I've had. They should be suing Samsung and Nokia too. I can't wait to see the follow up on this one. I'm sure it's going to get thrown out.

February 27 2008 at 9:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Erik Madsen

If you are the person who filed this suit, I just want to say two words: DOUCHE BAG

February 27 2008 at 9:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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