iPhone or eBook

jephree · #1 (**permalink**) 25-03-2009, 07:07 AM

Is the iPhone an eBook? One Firm Says Yes, and Sues - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

Is the iPhone an eBook? One Firm Says Yes, and Sues

Quote:

A Swiss company has filed suit against Apple for patent infringement over the e-book capabilities of the iPhone.

Switzerland-based Monec sued Apple in District Court for Eastern Virginia Monday, accusing the company of knowingly infringing on its 2002 patent for an electronic book.

Apple is also accused of unfair trade practices, monopolization and tortuous interference with prospective business advantage.

Monec said it is "in the business of developing and marketing equipment for the transmission of data to mobile electronic communications systems, managing and utilizing patents in this area and awarding licenses."

Its Web site has no additional details on products or services.

Earlier this month, Amazon released an app for the Apple App Store that lets users of the iPhone and the iPod Touch read Kindle books on their handsets. Users can sync back and forth between their iPhone and Amazon's Kindle e-book reader – the second iteration of which was released in February.

Monec was awarded a patent seven years ago for an "electronic device, preferably an electronic book." Content for the device could be accessed "by way of a telephone line (cable, light waves, or radio) or a television cable at any time with the newest information," according to the patent application.

In its filing, Monec lists 23 iPhone qualities that prove the infringement claim, including the device's 3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display, its built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and its ability to allow users to read a regular book on the screen.

As a result, Apple infringes on the Monec patent "by making, selling, and/or offering for sale one or more of its products and services, including, but not limited to, its Apple iPhone, alone and in combination with other Apple products and services," the filing said.

It is unclear why Monec chose to sue Apple instead of Amazon. The description of the Monec patent, however, describes a device with an LCD screen and background illumination – something the Amazon Kindle does not have.

Monec has requested damages, including lost profits, reasonable royalties, and interest, as well as attorneys' fees and costs, so perhaps it believes that Apple is more in a position to pay up than Amazon.

penguinpaul · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 09:11 PM

hmm, will be interesting to see how this all turns out...

But I dont see Apple as the first ones to do this....