The US International Trade Commission will investigate a patent infringement complaint filed by Elan Microelectronics in Taiwan regarding Apple's multitouch devices including the iPhone and iPad.
Elan on March 29 filed a complaint with the ITC asserting that Apple had violated a patent relating to the ability to detect the simultaneous presence of multiple fingers on touch devices. The technology involved is used in the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, MacBook and Magic Mouse products.
Elan asked the ITC to issue an order barring importation of those products into the US. Elan also asked the ITC to bar Apple from selling any of these products it had already imported into the US.
Elan is alleging that Apple infringed patent number 5,825,352, which is registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Elan is a semiconductor design company, which also develops products focused on touch technology.
An Apple spokeswoman declined comment on ITC's initiation of an investigation into its products.
Elan in April last year filed a lawsuit against Apple in US District Court in Northern California alleging infringement of two patents, which cover a patent included in the ITC complaint. The case is ongoing, with the next hearing set for June 21 in San Francisco.
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Comments received
frere said on Tue, 27 Apr 2010
How long has the iPhone been out?
grumpygiraffe said on Tue, 27 Apr 2010
Thats pretty much what I was thinking. It's not like they just suddenly released it last month without anyone knowing anything about it...
Che said on Tue, 27 Apr 2010
probably just making their case. how long did it take Creative to get their money from Apple?
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