Professor accuses Apple of patent infringement, wants ban on iPhones and iPads

[RaduTyrsina]

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Apple has seen a lot of trials throughout its history but the latest one is a little more interesting. The tech giant is not being attack by another competitor (like Samsung) but by a seemingly harmless university professor.

Lecturer Theodore D. Moustakas from the University of Boston claims that he invented the gallium nitride film, the very same that Apple is now employing when assembling iPhones, iPads and MacBook Airs. He explained that his prototype dates back to 1995, way before Apple filed a patent for such films in 1997.

The University of Boston is supporting the professor’s decision to go in a court of law and is asking for the prohibition to sell iPhones, iPads ​​and MacBook Airs in the United States. From their actual petition:

“Several of the Defendant’s products including iPhone 5, iPad and MacBook Air include a gallium nitride thin film semiconductor device claimed by the ‘738 patent and thus infringe one or more claims of the ‘738 patent’

The plaintiff, who teaches electrical computing and engineering, is asking Apple to provide full compensation for the “wrongful infringementâ€.

Apple has been hitting some rough patches in the lawsuit sector lately. Just in the last months, a court sided with Samsung and its accusation on patent violation. The court ruled that the iPhone 4, iPad and iPad 2 should be pulled off the market. Cupertino is of course trying to appeal the decision and it has 60 days to do so.

Source: DailyMail

 

[AQ_OC]

He ought to at least admit that he wants the money (as in he is not really interested in banning phones and stuff)....and why has it taken so long for this to come to light? That seems to me him simply trying to let the dollars add up....

 

[scifan57]

One thing I thought of right away was, if this guy already held a patent on the process, or had an application pending, why did the U.S. patent office grant Apple a patent for the process? Normally a pre-existing Patent or Patent applied for would result in the refusal to issue a Patent to another party.

 

[AQ_OC]

He could have applied for it first and had it granted at a later date. But it has still been a very long time.