Apple has been alleged again regarding patent infringement, and this time it concerns several different iPhone models, including the iPhone X.
Singapore Asahi Chemical & Solder Industries PTE Ltd. has brought a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court in Ohio, accusing Apple infringed on its solder patent in manufacturing the phones: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X.
The allegedly infringed patent concerns the lead-free solder that Asahi produces. The suit reads that Apple “is selling certain consumer electronics that incorporate the claimed technology.”
Asahi’s patent on lead-free solder was issued in 2001, describing: “solder alloys with improved physical and chemical properties that comprise effective amounts of tin, copper, silver, and bismuth.”
There is no dollar amount listed in the claim as yet. Asahi seeks for a jury trial and wants to be paid on assessment and award of damages, payment of attorney’s fees, and treble damages.
Relatively, the patent rights of solder were assigned to H-Technologies Group, Inc., it is based in the state of Ohio, which is why Asahi filed the suit there. According to the plaintiffs, the court in Ohio has jurisdiction over the case, citing the fact that Apple has four retail stores in the state.
This was the third time in this month that Apple has been alleged on patent infringement. Beforehand, SMTM Technology, a patent troll has sued Apple for the feature ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving.’ In the same week, the company Advanced Voice Recognition Systems, Inc. (AVRS) sued Apple on Siri’s internet access.
Samsung too had been caught up in litigation issues regarding iPhone patents, but those were taken care of in the last month, seemingly ending Apple’s spree of patent infringements during that time. Now with SMTM, AVRS, and Asahi in the mix, Tim Cook gets to say the iconic: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” Hang in there, Tim – Apple and tech fans know you’ll come through!
