Court session opened for iphone design dispute

2010/11/25

The Beijing First Intermediate People's Court held a hearing on the design patent dispute of iphone. Apple appeared at the court as a third party, responding that "good design is an important factor in iphone’s success. There is no same or similar thing".

  Shanghai Luoen Network Information Co., Ltd. alleged that the design of iphone is similar to a LG MP3 player and a Dopod phone, and thereby requested Patent Reexamination Board of State Intellectural Property Office to declare the patent is invalid. The Patent Reexamination Board handled the request and made final decision last August to maintain the patent’s validity. Therefore, the plaintiff brought the Patent Reexamination Board to court and Apple company as the third party took part in the litigation.The case is now under further investigation.

                                                                    By IP Channel of People's Daily Online