...to defend you intellectual property? Was the entire company in a coma for that time? Did they just notice that devices with touch screens are all over the place?

No, they waited until everyone and their brother owns a touchscreen device, because they want to sue all of these companies for as much as they can get.

Nice business model there, Typhoon.

The idea, or the actual technology? Or both?

And 12 years before you defend it? Sorry, you lose.

Apple Newton August 1993

Good catch, Guest. The Newton would accept finger touch-based input. The original Newton plus models 100, 110, and 120 were all released prior to 1995.

Apple should sue the pants off "Typhoon Touch Technologies."

quoting Tiger: The idea, or the actual technology? Or both?

Hope someone in the know can answer this? Can one just patent an idea or possibility, wait it out, and sue like crazy? If so, how much does it cost. I have some awesome ideas, potentially quite lucrative ideas! Don't we all. Until the product is first produced, they are called fantasies or science fiction.

Cheers,
mhikl

I just read an interesting article about the iPhone by AP. The headline starts with: "Analysts: New Apple iPhone..."

Unfortunately, I can't quote more than four words here, because according to AP, quoting five or more words wouldn't fall under "fair use" anymore and by quoting more from their headline I would commit copyright infringement. And we wouldn't want to do that; AP might end up suing me. Maybe the article wasn't that interesting after all...

Is it non-obvious? I personally think that the idea of a touchscreen in obvious, the implementation behind it is where the true patentability is.

They just want money... so they can get what Apple has now.

Just like CWC, this lawsuit is absurdly frivolous. People who file BS claims like these should be required by law to pay back the defendant's legal bills x2, then maybe this country could clear some of this crap of our courts' dockets, and save all of us taxpayers some money in the process.

Two possibilities:

1. Small patent holders get steamrolled by the ubercorps like the ones listed. Eg.: Apple challenges patent, patent not enforced during review, typical review takes two years, royalties not retroactive, settled in favor of patent holder, Apple finds another reason to ask for a review, patent holder dies old, poor and owing lawyers millions.

2. Savvy speculator buys undefended patent with potential, hires sharpest legal team available, Apple does math (defend v, pay) and settles, raise Ipod price 25 cents to cover. Speculator buys Aspen ski house.

I'd guess little Typhoon's case finally had enough upside potential (bazillions of units in use) to get legal help on contingency basis.