Submission + - Apple sued for use of tabs in Mac OS X 10.4
rizzo320 writes: "AppleInsider is reporting that "An Illinois-based company and its Nevada partner have filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc., alleging that Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" treads on an interface patent that affects the operating system's nearly universal use of tabs." The patent in question is 5072412, which was originally issued to Xerox in 1987, but now seems to be owned or licensed to IP Innovation LLC and its parent Technology Licensing Corporation. "Category dividers triggered by Spotlight searches, as well as page tabs in the Safari web browser, bear the closest similarity to the now 20-year-old description." of the patent. IP Innovation is requesting damages in excess of $20 Million, and in addition, an injunction against future sales and distribution of Mac OS X 10.4. Software patent reform can't come soon enough!"
