Tech Shout!

Every week, Apple’s iPhone seems to be in the news for lawsuits, patent infringement issues and what not! Now, the latest law suit claims that Apple infringes on a patent issued in 1990 that describes a system capable of displaying the phone number and name of the person.

This lawsuit was initiated by Romek Figa, the creator and owner of the patent. He is now after the revolutionary iphone’s caller ID feature, insisting it infringes a patent he bagged way back in 1990.

Figa’s patent, describes an “an automatic incoming telephone call number display system for detecting an incoming call and identifying the party associated with the incoming call number”.

Like the iPhone, the system “includes a directory of telephone numbers and parties associated with those numbers,” and it’s equipped with “circuitry detects the origin telephone number of an incoming telephone call and compares that number with numbers in the directory for identifying the calling party.”

This patented system also includes a display that “permits the user to view the incoming call number and party associated with that number.” It’s worth noting, however, that this display differs from the iPhone’s display.”

Being 18 years old, the patent also mentions a few outdated technologies by today’s standards! In fact, the patent looks nothing close to the iPhone.

Figa has now requested a jury trial and is seeking an injunction against Apple, preventing the company from selling the iPhone. Moreover, Figa also wants triple damages for “knowing infringement.”

Reportedly, a number of mobile phone companies including Motorola, Nokia and Samsung have already licensed the technology from Figa. However, till now, Apple has refused the terms offered.

Incidentally, Apple was also sued by Klausner over the same visual voice mail patent.

We really wonder if Apple will get out of such a mess this time.