Lawsuit

ITC judge finds Apple’s products in violation of Motorola Wi-Fi patent

Cody Lee ∙ April 25, 2012

Thomas Pender, of the International Trade Commission, passed down a ruling yesterday that could have some serious ramifications for Apple if the cards fall just right. Bloomberg reports that the ITC judge found the iPad-makers to be in violation of one of Motorola's patents.

Motorola was actually suing Apple over four patents, so the fact that Apple was only found to be in violation of one is a victory in itself. But the patent it is being charged with infringing upon, an invention involving Wi-Fi, is a pretty crucial component for iOS devices...

Tim Cook speaks out on Apple’s patent battles

Cody Lee ∙ April 24, 2012

Along with making announcements regarding its quarterly performance, Apple also uses its financial earnings calls to offer analysts a chance to ask questions. After all, these are the folks that have to essentially guess how Apple will fair over the next few months.

On today's call, there was one particular question that was both interesting and relevant: "In terms of flexibility in cash and providing more color, how should we think about opportunities regarding patent disputes? Any thoughts about settling vs ongoing litigation?

And here's how Tim Cook responded...

Court upholds ban on iCloud push email in Germany

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Earlier this year, a German court slapped Apple with an injunction, forcing the company to disable iCloud's push email service in the country. The move was the direct result of a Motorola lawsuit, who claimed Apple was using its patented technology in the feature.

Well things got worse today for the iPad-makers. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a German regional court has upheld the previous decision of the ban on Apple's iCloud service, essentially granting Motorola a victory in the ongoing patent war...

iTunes is the target of a new lawsuit

Oliver Haslam ∙ March 29, 2012

Apple is today finding itself on the wrong end of another lawsuit, with iTunes this time feeling the full force of America's somewhat broken patent system. As is the done thing these days, someone claiming to own a patent that may be infringed upon by a large company is seeking damages for said infringement.

According to a report in Computer World, a man named Benjamin Grobler believes that iTunes, along with Sony's PlayStation Network, infringes upon a patent he owns which covers a "data vending system."

This system allows the central hosting of apps, movies or music, with information on what a customer has already purchased already also being part of the system. Sound familiar? Yup, that's iTunes in the Cloud, then...

Apple spoke with Samsung multiple times in 2010 to try to avoid litigation

Cody Lee ∙ March 26, 2012

Even though the patent war between Apple and Samsung has seemingly fallen from the media spotlight for the time being (which we're totally OK with), the battles are still very much going on.

As you may know, the two companies have been in and out of courtrooms all around the world over the past year entangled in patent litigation. And there doesn't seem to be any end in sight. But what you may not know is, Apple actually approached Samsung multiple times two years ago to try and avoid this entire mess...

Apple forced to stop suing Kodak over patents

Jake Smith ∙ March 8, 2012

In January, 131 year old camera company Kodak filed a lawsuit against Apple for violating four patents. Fast forward a month later, Apple went after the already bankrupt Kodak in court, counter suing the company. Apple claimed that Kodak actually stole the patents in question from Apple.

Today, the WSJ reports a New York judge has ordered Apple to stop filing lawsuits against Kodak. Kodak is failing as a company and is currently bankrupt...

Apple asking for up to $15 from Samsung and Motorola for each Android device sold

Cody Lee ∙ March 6, 2012

It looks like Apple is starting to grow weary of patent litigation. Hot on the heels of word that the company won a major victory in a Chicago court today, reports are coming in now that the iPhone makers are looking to settle some of its lawsuits involving Android partners.

According to Dow Jones Newswires, Apple has issued proposals to both Samsung and Motorola Mobility to settle several pending patent disputes in exchange for royalty payments to license its intellectual property...

Apple forced to suspend iCloud push services in Germany due to Motorola lawsuit

Cody Lee ∙ February 24, 2012

It looks like Motorola has won another major victory in Germany against Apple today, as reports are coming in that the Cupertino company has been forced to suspend its iCloud push services due to a court injunction.

The two handset-makers have been involved in an ongoing patent war in the country over the last few months, and so far, Motorola has clearly had the upper hand..

Apple sued over voicemail patents

Jake Smith ∙ February 22, 2012

Adding to its large array of ongoing lawsuits, Apple has been sued by patent holding company Brandywine Communications Technologies over two voicemail patents. The lawsuit was filed in a local Florida court on Tuesday, reports GigaOm.

The patents in questions are No. 6,236,717 and No. 5,719,922, which were filed in 2001 and 1998 respectively by Brandywine. One patent is officially described as...

Is Motorola becoming a patent troll? Microsoft seems to think so

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Last week, Apple lodged a complaint against Motorola with the European Commission regarding FRAND abuse. Apple believes that Motorola is not making its standards-essentials patents available under Fair, Reasonable, and Non Discriminatory terms.

The truth is, Apple's right. Motorola is asking the iPhone-maker for a ridiculous 2.25% of Apple's wireless device sales in exchange for the use of its industry-standard patents. Is Motorola becoming a patent troll? Microsoft seems to think so...

ITC dismisses HTC complaint, Apple wins again

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Having trouble keeping track of all of Apple's legal entanglements? We don't blame you. The company is currently engaged in courtroom battles around the world with both Samsung and Motorola, and is in an ongoing fight with HTC here in the US.

But it seems as though the latter spat is starting to wind down. The ITC just dismissed HTC's final complaint against Apple, and unless the Taiwanese manufacturer wins an appeal, the two-year old lawsuit could finally be coming to an end...

Apple files complaint against Motorola over FRAND abuse

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 1, 2017

Well we all saw this coming. Electronista is reporting that Apple has just filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding Motorola's recent legal actions. The handset-maker won an injunction in Germany last month, resulting in the temporary ban of some of Apple's products.

But Apple has maintained that the patents that Motorola is asserting against it are industry standard, and therefore fall under FRAND jurisdiction. And since Motorola doesn't seem to want to offer Apple a FRAND license, Apple went to the EC...