apple news/media reports
01/22/2007, 12:35pm, EST
Monday, January 22nd
Quantum sues Apple over iPod clickwheel
Quantum Research Group has filed a lawsuit against Apple over the capacitive touch-sensing technology used in the Cupertino-based company's iPod clickwheels. "We are suing Apple over charge-transfer technology in iPods," said Quantum CEO Hal Philipp. "Some are based on Cypress' PSoC chip and used in a way we believe infringes our patent." The suit was filed in December of 2005, but was kept under wraps by both parties during the ongoing negotiations. Apple has filed a response in the case "denying all material allegations and asserting numerous affirmative defences," according to a report from electronicsweekly.com, and filed "counterclaims for non-infringement and invalidity." Quantum's CEO noted that "There are settlement discussions going on but I believe it will go to trial later this year," adding that "I am hoping iPhone does not contain Quantum-patented charge-transfer technology." The executive clarified that some iPods use a capacitive touch sensor from Synaptics which he says doesn't infringe upon Quantum's patents.
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Ohhhh, ssuuuurrrree
Ever get the feeling that these suits go on constantly in the tech industry and we only ever hear about 2% of them?
I'm gonna be sooo rich!
What were Quantum financials like? in the red perhaps? desperately seeking attention maybe?
Attention would do them no good. Money would, though. Of course, this lawsuit is over a year old, so its not like they need the money real quick.
No body bothered with Apple years ago, indeed there was much disparaging; oh what success will bring out of the woodwork! Everybody wants a piece of the success pie! Pitiful, the greed factor in America.
(a) How do you know no one sued them before? Just because you don't remember it? I seem to recall a lawsuit on Colorsync (woo, talk about exciting!) and Quicktime way back when. I'm sure there were others. If Apple had settled this a while ago, you probably still would never have heard it.
(b) Here's a question for you. If you owned a patent on some technology that several people could possibly be infringing on, would you (1) sue the company that's down on its luck, bleeding money, and possibly unable to pay, or (2) sue the company with great financials and loads of cash, as you know you'll get your fair shake out of the deal, or (3) just ignore it, because you haven't been able to sell it, so its nice to see someone else making money hand-over-fist in which your invention is a key component.
I'm sure its (3), because you sound like the kind of person who doesn't believe in material things.