Motorola's smart phone subsidiary sues Apple

Motorola Mobility, the Motorola Inc. subsidiary responsible for its smart phones, is suing Apple Inc. for patent infringement.

Motorola said that Apple's Macintosh computers, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, iTunes store and MobileMe Web services infringe on 18 of its patents.

The technology in question includes antenna design, wireless e-mail, location-based services and data synchronization among multiple devices. Motorola said it has filed complaints in U.S. District Courts in Illinois and Florida and with the U.S. International Trade Commission.

The company is asking the ITC to bar Apple from importing, selling, advertising and even warehousing the alleged infringing products. Motorola is asking the federal courts to stop Apple from using its patented technology and to pay for its past infringement.

"After Apple's late entry into the telecommunications market, we engaged in lengthy negotiations, but Apple has refused to take a licence," said Motorola's corporate vice president of intellectual property, Kirk Dailey, in a statement. Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said the company would not discuss pending litigation. Courtesy StarTribune.com