Man Claims to Have Invented the iPhone in 1992, Sues Apple for $10 Billion

[The Sandman]

A man named Thomas Ross has claimed he invented the iPhone in 1992, and has now sued Apple for $10 billion.

According to The Guardian, Ross says the iPhone, iPad, and iPod all infringe his invention of an "Electronic Reading Device."








Thomas Ross' drawing of his ERD. (via The Guardian)

Ross says he worked on the design for over a year before filing a patent in November 1992. “I would be at home wanting to read books and it dawned on me that it would be nice to have a device aggregating different functions. It was somewhat cumbersome to carry around different devices for different purposes – the trend at the time,” he said.

Ross never followed through with the design because of a lack of funds. He failed to pay the required fees to protect the ERD, and the US Patent and Trademark Office declared his application abandoned in 1995. In addition, he said "I was never good at going after investors and selling them my idea. I am a quiet man."

Last year, Ross' lawyer sent a cease and desist letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, however he received a reply from Apple's Jeffrey Lasker saying the claims "have no merit."

However, Ross has now filed a lawsuit for $10 billion, and wants Apple to "forfeit the patents derived from his designs."

Lawsuits aren't new to Apple, which has recently been hit with a class-action lawsuit over a Wi-Fi defect, and had to pay out $53 million in 2013 after it refused to repair devices under warranty.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06...-the-iphone-in-1992-sues-apple-for-10-billion

 

[The Sandman]

@Hamartia Antidote

 

[Hamza913]

Lot's of people had thoughts and idea's of devices like the iPhone long before Apple came along, wait in line pal.

 

[C130]

Star Trek has more of a case than this guy.

Star Trek should sue everybody.

 

[friendly_troll96]

still better than iphone

 

[That Guy]

He's have a higher chance suing Amazon for the Kindle, and by higher chance, it is still around 0.1%

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

@Hamartia Antidote

All I can say is

The Hitchhiker's Guide [1978] is described as resembling "a small, thin, flexible lap computer" encased in a "sturdy plastic cover" with the words "Don't Panic" inscribed on it "in large, friendly letters". It is presumably of robust construction, making it able to withstand falling through time/space wormholes and being thrown into swamps, being rescued, and still operating. Arthur Dent's copy survived a spaceship crash which melted the ship into something unrecognizable yet the Guide (and on-board entertainment system) survived. Its entries are arranged alphabetically on the screen and accessed via typing entry codes on a keyboard;

 

[CriticalThinker02]

Imagine if this guy wins and becomes a billionaire overnight

 

[untitled]

His "device" looks more like an Apple Newton than an iPhone

 

[CriticalThinker02]

His "device" looks more like an Apple Newton than an iPhone

Newtons development began in the 1980's right?, Apple should sue back this guy for stealing their idea and trying to patent it.

 

[untitled]

Now Texas Insruments should sue THHGTG. Thats a speak n spell rip off

 

[UniverseWatcher]

but he did fill the patent before apple, plus what is he gonna sue every company? since every phone looks like an iPhone

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Now Texas Insruments should sue THHGTG. Thats a speak n spell rip off

Haha!

Although the Guide has lots of parallels with smartphones connected to the Internet. It really did predict information at your fingertips. Infact watching the movie below in fullscreen mode on a phone certainly makes me grin.

From the 1981 tv series. A Wikipedia like search for "Babel fish"

 

[Desertfalcon]

Star Trek has more of a case than this guy.

Star Trek should sue everybody.

Star Trek claims to have invented the first awkward, interracial kiss but actually it was me and a girl named Shanice I met at church camp one summer when I was a kid.

 

[Stannis Baratheon]

Star Trek claims to have invented the first awkward, interracial kiss but actually it was me and a girl named Shanice I met at church camp one summer when I was a kid.

I would like to inform you that we are extremely delighted to know about your pointless personal story. And on behalf of the entire PDF family, we are looking forward to more pointless post about your personal life. We thus sincerely hope that you will keep us updated with such story that are completely irrelevant to the thread. Thank You.