May 2008

Apple Sues Maker of iPod Accessories

Submitted by GPCI on Sun, 05/18/2008 - 18:51

May 18, 2008 - Apple has filed a lawsuit against Atico International USA, alleging patent and trademark infringement resulting from Atico's sales of various unauthorized iPod accessories.

Atico's iPod accessories are marketed under the name "Living Solutions" and are sold online and in stores such as Walgreen's drug stores.

Apple charges manufacturers a royalty on all official iPod accessories.

Eastman Kodak Settles Patent Dispute with St. Clair

Submitted by GPCI on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 18:50

May 16, 2008 - Eastman Kodak announced that it has settled its patent dispute with St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc., which had filed a complaint against Eastman Kodak with the US International Trade Commission in January 2007. The complaint alleged that Kodak infringed St. Clair's patents pertaining to certain digital cameras and component parts.

Nintendo Ordered to Pay $21M to Anascape

Submitted by GPCI on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 18:49

May 15, 2008 - A federal judge has ordered Nintendo of America to pay $21 million to Anascape, a Texas company that owns a portfolio of patents related to game controllers.

Anascape sued Nintendo in 2006, claiming that Nintendo's Gamecube controller, the Wavebird wireless pad and the Wii Classic add-on infringed several of Anascape's patents.

Microsoft was also sued by Anascape in 2006, but settled with them earlier this month for an undisclosed amount.

Crocs Subsidiary Wins $56M in Lawsuit

Submitted by GPCI on Tue, 05/13/2008 - 18:44

May 13, 2008 - Jibbitz LLC, the maker of ornamental charms for Crocs shoes, won a $56 million default judgment against a Chinese company that was found to infringe on 179 of Jibbetz's copyrighted designs, had 33 additional designs that were "identical or deceptively similar" to Jibbetz designs and even used the Jibbetz name and logo on their website.

The defendants - Jeffrey Ye, Yuanhui Chen, Jinjiang Huakai Shoes & Garments Co. Ltd. and Xiamen Unibest Import & Export Co. Ltd. - did not respond to the complaint and failed to appear at a March hearing for a preliminary injunction.