Lawsuit may threaten iPhone sales

Apple just keeps getting hit with lawsuits this month. AppleInsider reports on yet another new lawsuit seeking to bring the iPhone down. Romek Figa of Abraham & Sons filed a 5-page complaint in a Massachusetts district court that alleged Apple violated a patent from 1990. The patent is described as a way for a phone to look up an incoming number and match it with a stored contact, allowing the phone to display the stored contact information.

However, the 1990s-based patent references technologies such as a two line LCD and separate receiver. Figa's complaint requests that Apple be tried by a jury; and if he were to win, Apple would have to stop selling the iPhone and further infringing on the patent. He is also seeking damages for Apple knowingly infringing on the patent.

This suit seems to be a little "over the top," meaning that most phones already do some form of this to retrieve information from a contact list and display it for an incoming call. At least, that's the case with every cell phone I've had. Why hasn't this suit had an impact on any other cell phone manufacturers? What do you think about the suit? Be sure to express your opinions in the comments!

[via AppleInsider]