June 24 - 5:45pm EDT   A number of Sharp LCD TVs have been banned from unlicensed import to the US, as part of a ruling resulting from a patent dispute with Samsung, according to Bloomberg. The two electronics manufacturers have been battling over technology used in the displays, specifically "apertures formed in the conductive layer comprising the electrode." The technology is utilized in LCD panels with wide viewing angles. [full story]

May 24 - 5:35pm EDT   Cartier, a high-end watch manufacturer and jeweler, has filed a lawsuit accusing Apple of trademark infringement, according to the Wall Street Journal. The dispute involves several iPhone apps, Fake Watch and Fake Watch Gold Edition, that show the current time on several virtual watches which replicate famous designs. Users can choose a Cartier Tank timepiece presented with the company's trademarks. [full story]

May 21 - 12:15pm EDT   A Texas federal jury has ordered Microsoft Corp to pay out $200 million in damages to Toronto-based software maker i4i Limited for allegedly infringing a patent, the software giant announced on Wednesday. Microsoft, which is regularly at the receiving end of such lawsuits, went on to say it is planning on appealing the verdict, as it believes the award is unsupported by the evidence. [full story]

April 27 - 6:50pm EDT   Apple is in the middle of a new lawsuit that could test the limits of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The lawsuit was filed jointly by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and attorneys representing OdioWorks, the company that runs Bluwiki, a technology forum website that hosted iPodhash, which discussed use of open-source iPod technology. The lawsuit comes in response to Apple's demands that the iPodhash forum be closed because it violated the DMCA's anti-circumvention provisions. [full story]

March 24 - 5:55pm EDT   A Swiss company, MONEC Holding AG, has targeted Apple in yet another lawsuit involving the iPhone. The company claims the handset violates a patent entitled "Electronic device, preferably an electronic book." MONEC seeks triple compensatory damages, including lost profits, interest, attorneys fees and costs. The company also aims to receive royalties, along with the assessed value of Apple's gains, profits or benefits resulting from the patent infringement. [full story]

March 13 - 5:45pm EDT   Apple has been targeted in yet another lawsuit, as a Cincinnati mother seeks damages from the company over an incident where an iPod touch allegedly exploded in her son's pocket, according to Ars Technica. The filings refer to the device as an "iTouch," which was reportedly left in the student's pocket during class. The iPod was turned off and unexpectedly popped, caused a burning sensation and igniting the child's pants. [full story]

March 3 - 8:50pm EST   A California court has dismissed Gibson Guitar's lawsuit against Activision over the input devices used in the Guitar Hero game. The gaming company was sued for violating the "'405 Patent" which covers a system for generating and controlling a simulated musical concert experience, although the claims are geared for using real guitars as input for applications such as in-store demos. The court's strongly worded filing claims that Gibson's arguments "border on the frivolous." [full story]

March 3 - 1:50am EST   Psion has reacted to Intel's lawsuit over the term 'netbook' by filing its own countersuit, arguing that the chip-maker's claims are "barred by reason of Plaintiff's own unclean hands," as the legal battle between the companies continues to develop, according to Ars Technica. The allegations further accuse Intel of "unjustly benefiting from Psion's goodwill and reputation" and "willfully and maliciously" encouraging other companies to participate in the trademark infringement. [full story]

February 26 - 3:00pm EST   Following Psystar's recent amendment of its counterclaims against Apple, both parties have submitted a joint filing for protective order that aims to prevent the public release of any proprietary information during the discovery process that will lead into the trial. "The parties and their counsel have agreed to certain procedures and restrictions that they consider mutually acceptable for protecting personal, proprietary and confidential information that may be disclosed during prosecution and defense of this litigation," the filing read. [full story]

February 25 - 6:15pm EST   Microsoft on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against TomTom, accusing the navigation company of infringing on a number of patents. The dispute involves eight individual patents, with three relating to the use of a Linux kernel. Microsoft claims to have engaged the Dutch company for more than a year, attempting to negotiate a licensing agreement for the technology that has "been licensed by many others." [full story]

February 17 - 12:55pm EST   Apple has come to a resolution with lawyers and plaintiffs in a lawsuit regarding disabled access at its San Francisco retail location, according to ifoAppleStore. Jana Overbo and Nicole Brown-Booker initiated the suit in 2007 after experiencing problems navigating the store in wheelchairs. Issues included the width of the aisles, merchandise located too high, pressure required to open the front door, theater seating and Genius Bar staff that did not offer assistance. [full story]

January 19 - 3:45pm EST   Apple has become involved in yet another lawsuit, adding to its lengthy list of ongoing legal battles, with a patent infringement case filed by Information Protection and Authentication of Texas (IPAT) and Global Innovation Technology Holdings (GITH) that accuses several different computer-makers of using protected technology for determining software permissions. The patent holder and exclusive licensee demand a jury trial and hope to achieve monetary compensation, legal fees and an injunction. [full story]

January 14 - 2:55pm EST   Apple has allegedly threatened Wired for posting a video tutorial that provided instructions for configuring a Mac-clone netbook, according to a tweet by Gadget Lab writer Brian X. Chen. Although his first message suggested the publication was facing a lawsuit, an update revealed that Apple likely sent a cease and desist order. Despite the lack of a formal lawsuit, Wired apparently conceded and removed the videos from its website. [full story]

December 9 - 10:05pm EST   AT&T and Apple are pushing to have a New York court dismiss a number of charges in a class-action suit alleging that the iPhone's 3G performance falls short of advertising claims. The plaintiff in the case, Avi Koshitzki, also added additional accusations regarding cracks in the phone case. In the event that the dismissal is rejected, the companies have also filed a motion to compel arbitration, claiming that the arguments would be better suited for an alternative dispute resolution process outside of the court. [full story]

December 3 - 10:00pm EST   Apple this week has won a trademark infringement lawsuit against a Chinese electronics company. New Apple Concept Digital Technology Co. was ordered to pay 400,000 yuan (~$58,000 USD), completing a battle between the two companies that began in 2006 when the Shenzhen-based manufacturer was ordered to stop using its trademark, according to China Central Television. New Apple Concept had used a logo that featured an apple with the characteristic missing bite. [full story]