No, it's not April Fool's Day. A company calling itself IP Innovation, LLC, is suing Apple for allegedly infringing mid-1970s user interface technology that was patented filed on behalf of Xerox PARC in, ahem...1991. Ars Technica has a pretty comprehensive run-down of the situation. This is the best bit:
IP Innovation has filed at least 32 patent-related lawsuits over the last few years. I love the guts behind the name, don't you? "We let others innovate, then we buy the patents so we can sue even more successful companies!" I understand that they're soon going to go after GE for infringing on Prometheus's patent on light. In all seriousness, I'm a tremendous admirer of the innovators at Xerox PARC. Unfortunately, I really doubt any of them wills ee a dime if this frivolous lawsuit strikes gold.
Apple sued over vague user interface patent [Ars Technica]
Alto Image via Ed Thelen.
