[NewsPoster]

Non-practicing entity WhitServe has filed a lawsuit against Apple in the US District Court for Connecticut. The suit alleges that Apple is violating its patent relating to a system for "sequentially opening and displaying files in a directory" with the Quick Look feature built into OS X since 2007's "Leopard" release. WhitServe claims to be actively licensing the 2011 patent, and has suffered from Apple's willful infringement of its patent.

"The harm to WhitServe resulting from the infringing acts of Apple is irreparable, continuing, not fully compensable by money damages, and will continue unless enjoined by this Court," the company said in its lawsuit. Apple's first use of the technology was in 2007. WhitServe filed for the patent in 2006, and was awarded ownership in 2011. There has been no explanation of why the company waited almost two years after receiving the patent before suing Apple. WhitServe is seeking damages, court costs, and a permanent injunction against Apple's use of the technology. No court date has been set.

WhitServe LCC v. Apple Inc.

[AlenShapiro]

Prior art.....

more *.c

Now if only there was a company with enough money in the bank to actually fight this one.

Must buy more popcorn.

[Zanziboy]

OSX quick look was delivered in 2007 (and was probably shown internally at Apple at least a year or two earlier 2005/2006) and this company got a patent in 2011. And, they are suing? Good luck!

[testudo]

Originally Posted by Zanziboy 

OSX quick look was delivered in 2007 (and was probably shown internally at Apple at least a year or two earlier 2005/2006) and this company got a patent in 2011. And, they are suing? Good luck!

Um, try reading the article. "WhitServe filed for the patent in 2006, and was awarded ownership in 2011."

And since they filed in 2006, how long before then do you think WhitServe was working on it?

[testudo]

Originally Posted by NewsPoster 

Non-practicing entity WhitServe has filed a lawsuit against Apple in the US District Court for Connecticut. ... WhitServe claims to be actively licensing the 2011 patent

What does non-practicing mean in your slanted little world? Are they not allowed to license their technology, but must either use it themselves or move on?

There has been no explanation of why the company waited almost two years after receiving the patent before suing Apple. WhitServe is seeking damages, court costs, and a permanent injunction against Apple's use of the technology.

Um, because it takes time after receiving a patent to verify that it is actually being violated. And if they're a good company, maybe they spent the last year+ talking with apple trying to get them to license their technology rather than sue. And Apple stonewalled them enough that they finally decided to take this step.

I mean, it can't be for the 'normal' reasons, like waiting until it was in high use before suing. It was used for 5 years!

[baggy_pants]

It's a patent company. that's it.

That's the reason everyone hates software patent suits, just because you have an idea and have no ability to realize it, is no reason that someone else - simultaneously, earlier or later - has not had the same idea. Patenting it without full realization is ridiculous.

Cretins.