Apple, Microsoft, LG and other 20 companies were cited for violating the patent by TSER, which claims to have invented the touch pad used in devices like the iPod, the Zune and the Chocolate VX8500.
The patent was filed in 1999 by Li Chuang and then admitted only in 2003, after releasing the second generation iPod Classic. The words of the patent could lead to the invalidity of the prosecution case as you describe using a different technology than they realized by Apple. The patent speaks of “the absence of immediate visual feedback so the user does not need to see the device to send commands.
The accusation of TSER is mainly directed against Apple, stating that the patent Cupertino knew already from September 2004. The company calls for “aggravated damages, up to three times” while other companies are only required damage standard. The cause of the defense also requires the payment of future royalties for all those products that continue to use that technology.
Apple has already been involved in other cases for infringement of patents, none of which has to do with the touch pad.
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