Motorola claims the Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and even some Macintosh computers violate a total of 18 Motorola patents.

Technology giant Motorola has filed suit against Apple, claiming the company’s iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and particular Macintosh computers violate a total of 18 Motorola patents. The complaints center on technology related to GPRS and Wi-Fi technology, along with WCDMA (3G) wireless communication and wireless antenna design; other alleged infringements concern Apple’s MobileMe cloud-based subscription service and Apple’s App Store.

“Motorola has innovated and patented throughout every cycle of the telecommunications industry evolution, from Motorola’s invention of the cell phone to its development of premier smartphone products, said Motorola Mobility corporate VP Kirk Dailey, in a statement. “After Apple’s late entry into the telecommunications market, we engaged in lengthy negotiations, but Apple has refused to take a license. We had no choice but to file these complaints to halt Apple’s continued infringement.”

The complaints relate to what Motorola characterizes as “early state innovations” that it claims Apple uses in several of its products, including technology related to wireless email, proximity sensing, device synchronization, software application management, and location-based services.

In addition to patent infringement claims, Motorola has also filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission. Motorola is seeking unspecified damages and wants a ban on Apple importing or selling the allegedly-infringing products in the U.S. market. The ITC complaint and portions of the patent infringement complaints was filed by Motorola Mobility—Motorola’s phone-making unit—before a District Court in Chicago. The remaining patent infringement complaints were filed in Chicago and Miami.

Motorola’s suit comes just after the company found itself the target of a patent infringement suit from Microsoft over its Android-based smartphones.

Showing 6 comments

  1. the_middle at 7:57am 8th October 2010 It's very simple. If motorola doesn't defend its patents, it's open season on its licensable technologies. Will Apple go under as a result? Of course not. Will other companies reconsider licensing these technologies as required by law? Yes.
    1. anthony at 5:43am 20th October 2010 correct.
  2. Valimir at 1:25am 8th October 2010 That seem to be the game at this neo tele competitive Market. No real maketing strategy, just suing each other to show who've got the bigger ball.
  3. Radme at 7:39pm 7th October 2010 Nah, Apple is virtually unstoppable at this junction. You honestly believe the folks at Apple hasn't thought all of this through from the beginning. I would classify this as a speed bump.
  4. Senthil at 6:59pm 7th October 2010 Yes.. It indeed invented the cell phone
  5. ore masta at 12:51pm 7th October 2010 2012, the year apple goes out of buisness over the 10000 lawsuits filed against them, ill miss my ipod, but cant say they dont deserve it. one question, did motorola actually invent the cellphone?
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