Plaintiff shows long record of successful cases

Apple has been hit with a lawsuit over its use of digital camera technology, according to reports. The case is being processed through the US District Court for Delaware, and specifically charges Apple with violating four different patents in the manufacture of the iPhone. The plaintiff, St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, is demanding damage compensation and a jury trial.

The lawsuit is only the latest in a string from St. Clair, connected to the same patents. A 2001 verdict against Sony was valued at $25 million, while a 2003 suit versus Canon garnered $34 million. Suits have subsequently been filed against a number of electronics companies, including camera makers like Nikon, Minolta, Fuji, Casio, Olympus and Kyocera. General electronics companies targeted have included Samsung, Panasonic, Nokia, HP, Kodak, LG, Motorola, Palm and Research in Motion.

In many circumstances, licensing agreements have been arranged. Apple may be likely to jump to a settlement, given precedent and a desire to avoid an expensive legal battle.

by MacNN Staff