Apple sued by Cequint for alleged caller-ID patent infringement

TOYMAKER FOR THE WELL HEELED Apple is being sued by Cequint over alleged infringement of caller-ID patents.

Cequint, which cites many smartphone makers including HTC, Motorola, Nokia, Research in Motion and Samsung on its books, has sued Apple alleging it has infringed Cequint's caller-ID patents. Cequint is seeking unspecified damages and a court order to stop Apple from using what it claims are its inventions.

According to the firm's lawyers, "Cequint has been damaged by Apple's infringement" and "the firm will be irreparably harmed" unless a judge stops Apple in its tracks.

Judging by Cequint's client list, it seems that a number of big firms do license its software. Samsung, one of the firms Apple is battling against in various courts all over the world, gives a testimonial on Cequint's web site and one wonders if the Korean company will be only too happy to give supporting statements in court to create a roadblock for Apple.

The fact that Cequint waited over four years since the debut of Apple's Iphone to slap this lawsuit on the firm shows just how hot the market for intellectual property litigation is at the moment. It is highly unlikely that Apple will have to remove caller-ID functions in its Iphones, rather Cequint's move is more likely to force an endgame to its negotiations with Apple leading to a patent royalties deal. µ