Legal

Apple has targeted yet another company on its path toward making the term "App Store" its own.

A cease-and-desist letter from Apple, represented by the law offices of New York's Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, has surfaced today and takes aim at GetJar, a company that claims to have "the world's largest free app store."

In the letter--which was acquired by The Wall Street Journal and dated June 22, 2011--Apple's lawyers take aim at GetJar's claim, specifically the use of the term "App Store." Apple asserts that those two words relate … Read more

In the future you could selectively transfer files from one iOS device to another as easily as pouring out a tall beverage on your phone, a vision that's been detailed in a new Apple patent application that was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today.

The application, dubbed "Intuitive, gesture-based communications with physics metaphors," was unearthed by blog Patently Apple, and outlines a system for transferring data between iOS devices with the use of a "physical gesture."

Sound familiar? Perhaps you've used or heard of Bump from Bump Technologies, a service … Read more

An administrative law judge for the U.S. International Trade Commission today determined (PDF) that Apple is infringing on two patents owned by S3 Graphics, while not infringing on two others.

Today's decision is initial, with a final decision from a six-member commission set to be delivered in November.

"S3 Graphics is pleased to win this portion of the ITC investigation," S3 Graphics CEO Dr. Ken Weng said in a statement.

An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

S3 Graphics, a Fremont, Calif.-based graphic chipmaker, filed its complaint against Apple in … Read more

The International Trade Commission has once again extended its target date for making a decision on Eastman Kodak's complaint against Apple and Research In Motion, which claims the companies are infringing on a patent it owns.

In a notice about the investigation (PDF), the ITC said that it's determined to "affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand in part the final initial termination" from its administrative law judge (ALJ). It also said it's found no violation of a provision of the Tariff Act of 1930 regarding unfair competition. However, based on changes made to … Read more

The U.S. International Trade Organization today announced that it is delaying its decision on the matter of Apple and Research In Motion infringing on a patent held by Eastman Kodak.

The decision, which was originally slated to be delivered today, could have big consequences for the two smartphone makers if the ITC sides with Kodak.

In its complaint, filed in January 2010, Kodak sought to get smartphones from both companies blocked from entering the U.S., arguing that their cameras made use of image previewing technology covered by a Kodak patent. A more likely outcome ahead of the ITC'… Read more

U.S. antitrust regulators have given Apple the green light to make a bid on 6,000 Nortel patents and patent applications, Bloomberg reported today.

The decision comes just weeks after news about the Justice Department looking into bids made on that collection of intellectual property. The investigation began after concerns were made about the winner gaining an unfair edge against the competition.

Those patents and patent applications are up for grabs in a sale that begins Monday through Nortel's law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. The sale was originally slated to occur last week, but was delayed … Read more

Apple could find itself the target of an antitrust probe in India after a complaint was lodged against it from an unnamed party, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The complaint specifically asks India's antitrust agency to investigate whether Apple broke India's Competition Act of 2002 in the rollout of the iPhone 4 by only making it available to certain carriers. Apple began selling the phone to Indian carrier outfits Bharti Airtel and Aircel on May 27.

Apple remains selective about what carriers it makes its devices available on, though the overall number continues to grow beyond 200 worldwide. … Read more

Apple's quest to keep competitor Amazon from using the name "Appstore" for its digital downloads storefront could soon be hitting a roadblock.

Bloomberg reports that U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton--who is presiding over Apple's case against Amazon--said she'll "probably" deny Apple's motion that seeks to bar the Web retailer from using the "Appstore" name. The reasoning there, Hamilton explained during a hearing today, was that Apple's primary argument of the store's name confusing customers lacked evidence.

"I'm troubled by the showing that you've made … Read more

Apple's winning of a key touch-screen patent this morning could give the company some of its biggest ammo yet when it comes to both fending off and going after technology rivals in the courtroom.

Apple is no stranger to legal battles, but the company is a relative newcomer to the mobile-phone business, and has extended its reach into that space with mobile devices like the iPad. Apple's success has made it an increasingly larger target, and a player that needs to defend its turf. Patents make up a huge part of that.

Now's as good a time … Read more