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19 February 2020PatentsEdward Pearcey

Neodron sues Apple, Amazon for keyboard patent infringements

Ireland-based Neodron has filed multiple patent infringement complaints against Apple, Amazon, AsusTek Computer, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Motorola and Sony, all related to keyboard functionality and sensitivity.

Neodron has also filed a patent-infringement complaint with the US International Trade Commission ( USITC), in an attempt to block the importation of touchscreen mobile devices (such as the iPhone, iPad and other types of tablets) made and sold by a raft of technology giants.

Six of the filings (against Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Sony Corporation, LG Electronics, and AsusTek Computer) were at the the US District Court for the Western District of Texas. A seventh, against Motorola Mobility, was filed at the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

In the lawsuits, it claims the companies are infringing four separate patents: 7,821,425 (“capacitive keyboard with non-locking reduced keying ambiguity); 7,903,092 (“capacitive keyboard with position dependent reduced keying ambiguity”); 8,749,251 (“proximity sensor”); and 9,411,472 (“touch sensor with adaptive touch detection”).

Touchscreen advancements range from “fundamental ones, which make basic touch technology work, to optional improvements, which typically represent one technological option that improves aspects of the user experience and functionality of a touchscreen”, said the Apple filing.

This infringement action is about “patented improvements, which took years of research and millions of dollars in US investments to develop, and which are infringed by defendant’s accused products”, said the Apple lawsuit.

According to the Apple filing, its iPhone 11 and third generation of its iPad Pro both directly infringe all four patents.

Neodron is the “sole owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in each asserted patent”, said the complaints.

In all cases, Neodron is requesting, among other things, a judgment in favour of Neodron that the defendant “has infringed, either literally and/or under the doctrine of equivalents”, all four patents.

It’s also requesting a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendant from further acts of infringement, and an order requiring the defendant to pay Neodron its “damages, costs, expenses, and pre-judgment and post-judgment interest” for the defendant’s infringement of the patents. It is seeking a full jury trial.

This isn’t the first time Neodron has been involved in such action. In June 2019, the USITC announced that it would scrutinise companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Motorola, following a complaint from Neodron, which alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1990.

Neodron filed its complaint in May 2019, accusing the companies of infringing US patent numbers 8,432,173; 8,791,910; 9,024,790; and 9,372,580, all of which relate to touchscreen technology.

According to the June 2019 complaint, the companies were infringing the four patents through importation into the US and the sale of touch-controlled mobile devices and computers.

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20 June 2019   The US International Trade Commission has announced it will scrutinise companies including Amazon, Microsoft, and Samsung following a complaint from Ireland-based Neodron.
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