Apple wins court case against man who claims to have invented the smartphone

NetAirus Technologies is a company owned by 70 year old Richard L. Ditzik, an electrical engineer who patented the idea of a handheld device that can connect to the internet, make phone calls, and be used as a personal digital assistant. In other words, he patented the smartphone. Ditzik has been in court with Apple over this patent for quite a few number of years, but now, according to Bloomberg, the case is over, and Apple has won. Why was Ditzik awarded a patent for something he clearly didn’t invent, but just imagined would one day exist? That’s a question only a lawyer could answer, but it’s certainly a topic that’s being fiercely debated in courts all around the world. The US government recently tried to pass legislation to squash such patent abuses from taking place, but thanks to lobbying from IBM and Microsoft, companies that hold a sizable portfolio of software patents, said legislation died. Hypothetically speaking, what would have happened if Apple would have lost the case? They would have had to sign a big check over to Ditzik and then that would be the end of that. Not the best scenario, obviously, but these patent cases are almost never about getting a product off store shelves. Some interested party usually just wants to pad their bank account. Continue reading →

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