apple and google sued over icon issue
The big three in technology – Google, Apple, and Microsoft – have been sued by a Michigan-centered networking company. On Wednesday, this company alleged that the three aforementioned companies were in violation of a patent. This patent is owned by the Michigan company is focused on the use of document preview thumbnails, commonly referred to as icons, used in operating systems.
This Michigan company, Cygnus Systems focuses their lawsuit on specific programs made by Google, Apple, and Microsoft. The programs in question are Google’s Chrome, Apple’s iPhone, Mac OS X, and Safari, and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (8) and Vista programs. These are all programs that are widely used around the world. Thus, the lawsuit is receiving a lot of publicity not only because the company’s are technology giants but also because the programs are widely used.
When asked to respond to press reports and articles, the lawyers for Google, Apple, and Microsoft were not yet able to respond to the inquiries.
Cygnus describes the patent covered technology they are suing over as “methods and systems for accessing one or more computer files via a graphical icon, wherein the graphical icon includes an image of a selected portion or portions of one or more computer files.”
Cygnus’s owner Gregory Swartz filed the lawsuit in the US District Court located in Arizona, where he lives. The lawsuit comes as a surprise because it has not only seen the light of day but affects commonly used products and pieces of technology.
The Michigan company was given their patent during the month of March in 2008. The patent was initially applied for back in 2001 and is reported to have been a continuation of the earlier application.
In the lawsuit, Cygnus is looking for damages for the technology’s use. Additionally, the company wants a permanent injunction against the companies using the technology so that further alleged infringement will no longer occur. In addition to this lawsuit, Cygnus is saying that they may also need to go after other groups that have used the technology. For smaller groups and organizations, it could mean the end of products both in development and those already released.
This high profile lawsuit is one that has many users of the aforementioned technology worried. It could mean that the technology giants may have to pay out large settlements to the Michigan company and it could curb or alter future versions of existing products.
No matter the outcome, this lawsuit is expected by many to either be settled out of court or to go on for quite some time. The technology heavyweights have high profile lawyers on retainer and are expected to battle the suit or to work out a settlement that will protect their products both released and those in development.
Duh, Icons were in use long before this so called patent was applied for. Think Xerox and their PARC facility in Palo Alto in the late 70’s and early 80’s
Another company that wants to ride on the coats of other people’s vision and work. THE US patent office, issues patents lately for things that have been in existence and commerce for decades. A complete overhaul of the patent systems need to be done now. All it does is make lawyers richer.
“Patently” absurd. Why don’t some of these outfits spend their time actually creating something useful, rather than looking for easy money thru questionable lawsuits. Suing over icons indeed. Pffft!
Yet another BS patent awarded by patent examiners who don’t know what they’re doing.
This technology was well established by around 1990 at the latest. The patent should never have been awarded.
There are news items from just less than a year ago talking about this legal action by this company.
I remember using Macs before 2000 that had image preview icons. This seems a little silly.
This is just as sad as Speedo trademarking the word Lifeguard, which they got away with.