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iPhone rendering lawsuit adds to Apple legal woes

updated 12:00 pm EST, Mon February 16, 2009

Picsel vs. Apple


A new lawsuit challenges the rendering technology used in the iPhone and the iPod touch, Yahoo reports. Filing a case through the US District Court for the district of Delaware, Picsel Technologies has accused Apple of violating patents on concepts that accelerate display updates. Many of the functions of the iPhone -- such as zooming, panning, web browsing and image viewing -- would be lethargic without Picsel's ideas, according to the company's legal representatives, Nixon Peabody LLP.

The Picsel case may have better odds than some past lawsuits targeting Apple, as Picsel's technology is already widely licensed by other cellphone makers; some of the company's clients include Palm, Nokia, Motorola, Sharp, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Settlement may be likely, particularly given Apple's past legal history. Picsel is nevertheless asking for triple compensation on devices already sold, should the case eventually reach trial. No court dates have so far been issued.


by MacNN Staff

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iPod, iPhone, iPod touch, lawsuits, Apple

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  1. unity@mac.com

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2005

    +2
    02/16, 12:42pm | report spam | Reply |

    Hmmm...

    Will have to see the details when I have a chance. But seeing that the hardware and OS X based software are radically different there may be nothing on this. Then again there may be.

  1. byRyan

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2007

    +4
    02/16, 12:52pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    concept

    does this company have any software or products of their own, or did they just patent a concept, and are trying to get rich without doing any work

  1. ctt1wbw

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Jan 2001

    +3
    02/16, 02:20pm | report spam | Reply |

    Ummm...

    Can you patent a concept of accelerating display updates? Isn't that what ALL computers do?

  1. dmsimmer

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2005

    +1
    02/16, 02:24pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    math

    There is certainly work involved in acquiring a patent. They have to prove why their technology is unique.

  1. lkrupp

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2001

    +3
    02/16, 02:27pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    The way it works?

    After seeing a number of these lawsuits brought against companies like Apple can we assume that this is how the world works under patent law? You don't have to actually produce a product. You simply patent an idea, sit back and wait for a real company to produce a product, and then sue them. Or, heck, no need to patent anything yourself. Buy a few, sit back and wait, then sue.

    Is that how it really works? All you need is some seed money and a patent lawyer and you're in business making money off of real companies?

  1. leamanc

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2003

    +1
    02/16, 03:02pm | report spam | Reply |

    @lkrupp

    lkrupp, yes that's the way it works. Welcome to America.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -4
    02/16, 03:38pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: the way it works

    So what you're saying is that, if I were to come up with a great idea on how to create an incredible battery that would hold a charge for 60 hours, but since I don't have a manufacturing plant to produce it, I should not be able to get a patent?

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -6
    02/16, 03:40pm | report spam | Reply |

    And

    At least this patent holder has stuff to back up its claims, like a bunch of other licensees. Someone must think their tech is worth the money.

    Now I wonder how they know apple stole their technology. Because if they hacked the phone to get at the code, they'll be sued by Apple for breaking the DMCA.

  1. lkrupp

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2001

    +3
    02/16, 06:07pm | report spam | Reply |

    Maybe

    "Now I wonder how they know apple stole their technology. Because if they hacked the phone to get at the code, they'll be sued by Apple for breaking the DMCA."

    Maybe they don't know and this lawsuit is a fishing operation. Maybe they just think Apple is using their technology. There are no consequences if they lose so why not sue and make Apple prove they don't use the patented code? Seems like it's win/win for Picsel.

  1. RonC

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2009

    +1
    02/16, 06:09pm | report spam | Reply |

    Patent numbers please...

    When you post these kinds of articles, can you also post the numbers of the patents that are being asserted? Your articles are intriguing, and I'd like to go read the claims myself (just 'cause they sound cool...).

    Granted patents are typically available at a bunch of places, including www.google.com/patents.

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