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Multi-Touch Tech Firm Seeks iPad Sales Injunction

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the good-luck-with-that dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Taiwan-based Elan Microelectronics just filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission alleging that Apple is infringing on its patents and violating the Tariff Act, and is seeking a ban on imports of the iPad as well as an order to stop selling the mobile device along with iPhones, iPods, and Macs. The move was taken as a 'continuation of our efforts to enforce our patent rights against Apple's ongoing infringement,' the company said." Considering many iPad pre-orders have tracking #s already, I suspect it might be a little late.

3 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. Re:How do you say by knappe+duivel · · Score: 5, Funny

    'Don't multi-touch me there' in Chinese?

    fixed that for you

  2. Re:Patent Trolls by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    didn't they kinda give up their rights when they stayed silent when the iPhone launched three years ago?

    You mean when they began patent negotiations, and finally sued for patent infringement a year ago? You can't sue for patent infringement until someone actually infringes on your patent. Two years is not a long time when it comes to doing research and preparing for a patent infringement lawsuit, and it was Apple who requested the trial be delayed so they could prepare. You might have a point if they had waited five or ten years, but at this point any patent infringement lawsuit against the iPhone is still within a reasonable time-frame. It is Apple who is delaying and stalling and generally being a douchebag toward the rest of the cell phone industry here.

    This is Elan Microelectronics basically saying Apple should not be permitted to release a new potentially infringing product while they have litigation in progress that directly concerns the type product they are releasing.

    I think their position is completely reasonable, but I'll admit I might think differently if I were an Apple fan.

    --
    Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
  3. History of Multi-Touch by rivertripper · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have been following this story since April of 2009. This link http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html is the best explanation of how multi-touch technology was created.