A UK COMPANY filed a lawsuit against Apple and Fingerworks just before Christmas alleging the companies had breached a patent it owns.
Quantum Technology Management Ltd, a UK company based in Haywards Heath, alleges Fingerworks and Apple breached patent number 5,730,165 – Time Domain Capacitive Field Detector, granted on the 24th of March 1998 to a Harald Philipp and subsequently acquired by Quantum.
The filing alleges that components made by Fingerworks when combined into the products of Apple use a technique covered by the patent.
It adds that Quantum had contacted both Apple and Fingerworks over the alleged violation with no response and therefore wants a jury in a Maryland court to award it damages.
According to the Fingerworks web site, it has ceased operating as a business and its products are no longer available for resale. So the Fingerworks bit could be a tricky one for Quantum to win.
News source: theinquirer
