Israeli start-up accuses Apple of copying camera tech
Israel-based Corephotonics has sued Apple for allegedly copying its patented camera technology for smartphones.
In a filing at the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Corephotonics accused Apple of infringing four patents by incorporating them into the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus.
The patents involved are US numbers 9,402,032 and 9,568,712, called “Miniature telephoto lens assembly”; 9,185,291, named “Dual aperture zoom digital camera”; and 9,538,152, titled “High resolution thin multi-aperture imaging systems”.
“Corephotonics is the pioneer and worldwide market leader of dual camera technologies for mobile devices,” according to its website.
In the claim, Corephotonics said that its dual-aperture camera technology “changes the way smartphones take pictures by using advanced lens design and sophisticated computational optics”.
“As one of its first acts as a company, Corephotonics reached out to Apple in the hopes of establishing a strategic partnership,” said the lawsuit.
However, the parties failed to reach an agreement over a licence to the Corephotonics technology, it added.
“In fact, after one failed effort to negotiate a licence, Apple’s lead negotiator expressed contempt for Corephotonics’ patents, telling Dr Mendlovic [one of Corephotonics’ founders] and others that even if Apple infringed, it would take years and millions of dollars in litigation before Apple might have to pay something.”
Corephotonics said has suffered and will continue to suffer “severe competitive harm, irreparable injury and significant damages” if Apple does not stop its infringing conduct, the complaint said.
The Israel-based startup is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction, triple damages, and a jury trial.
Yesterday, WIPR reported that Apple could breathe a sigh of relief after the US Supreme Court rejected Samsung’s appeal in its patent dispute with Apple.
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