It seems like everyone is suing everyone else, mostly over patents, and it can be hard to keep up with what’s been happening. Starting this month, Appletell will summarize all the twists and turns in the legal dramas so you’ll be informed with what’s been happening. This, month we take a quick look at Lodsys, Software Restore solutions, Openwave Systems, Motorola, Samsung and more.

In a move that could possibly gauge howeffective its licensing system for iPod accessories is, Apple has a filed a lawsuit against Atico International for infringing on its “Made for iPod” label. Apple complained that Atico’s iPod speakers product line, which include the AM/FM Portable Boom Box, AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio and Portable Speakers, have violated several of its key patents.

The US Patent and Trademark Office published several of Apple’s patent approvals today, all of which relate to different aspects of the iPhone’s functionality. The first patent that has been approved deals with organization of the iPhone’s interface, mainly to reduce the clutter of adding too many visual elements to a document. The patent indicates more »

Computers. Displays. Cell phones. Music players. Online music. Storage. Networking. Apple is already in a ton of markets, many of which, unfortunately, are tightly tied together. However, Apple is still a relatively young company and can branch out so much more. The questions is, if at all, where? Will they enter the digital camera market? The gaming market? The GPS and auto market? Or maybe even video cameras? It could be any of the above, especially given the fact that Apple has applied for so many patents lately. It will be interesting to find out, but heres my thoughts:

Apple has been awarded a patent titled “Method and apparatus rendering user accounts portable”; the 11-page document describes a method for transporting a user’s home directory and account settings on a portable device like an iPod or iPhone. Should Apple implement this feature, you’ll be able to sit down at any Mac, hook up your more »

Apple recently filed a patent application that describes an “improved feedback mechanism for touch pads”. This patent includes “devices capable of illuminating the touch sensitive surface of the touch pad” and “methods for providing visual feedback at the touch pad.” As usual, this is only a patent application, so it’s unclear when Apple will actually more »

A number of new patent applications were released today describing usage in Apple’s iLife and iWork suites. The patent applications are as follows: “Movie Authoring”, “Text flow in and around irregular containers”, “Predictive styling”, “Automatic sub-template selection based on content”, “User interface for Web page creation/editing”, and “Publishing and subscribing to digital image feeds”. The more »

It seems like Apple’s trying to protect the “Multi-Touch” trademark worldwide; according to AppleInsider, the electronics giant discreetly applied for the trademark at an intellectual property office in the Far East. Should the application be approved, this will give Apple control over where and when the trademark could be used by other parties. The restriction more »

The iPod and (very soon) the iPhone are some of the most coveted gadgets today; it seems like every crook or thief simply wants one. With all that negative publicity about getting mugged and what not, Apple finally seems to be taking personal security rather seriously. A new patent filed by the company reveals a more »