Motorola sues Apple over 18 patents

A Motorola unit filed three lawsuits and a trade complaint against Apple, contending the maker of the iPad computer tablet and iPhone mobile phone is infringing 18 of its patents.

The complaints were filed Wednesday by Motorola Mobility, the mobile phone making unit of Motorola.

Motorola Mobility, based in Libertyville, Ill., contends that Apple’s iPhone, iPad and MacBook computers infringe patents for a method for distributing message traffic, among others. Motorola seeks injunctions to block the infringement.

"Apple's infringing activities have caused and will continue to cause Motorola irreparable harm," according to one of the complaints in federal court in Chicago.

Kristin Huguet, an Apple spokeswoman, declined to comment.

Motorola accused Apple of infringing six patents in a second case in Chicago. The third case, also involving six patents, was filed in federal court in Miami.

Motorola also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission accusing Apple of infringing 18 patents.

(Published by NY Times - October 7, 2010)