Apple’s first foray into the smartwatch world has been met with critical acclaim, yet mixed success when it comes to sales. Unfortunately things may be getting even worse for the world’s premier technology manufacturer. This week the Apple were hit with a $2 billion lawsuit over the Apple Watch from a woman in Detroit. Why did she file this lawsuit which is causing more Apple Watch woes. Read on to find out!
More Patent Fun For Apple!
Daisy Washington-Gross claims that she was the first person to put a patent in for a computer wristwatch. She claims that Apple infringed her pending patent for the “Detachable Beeper Disc Digital Gym Shoe Computer Watch” by releasing the Apple Watch. For this reason she is demanding $2 billion from the firm who are expected to announce the successor to their first smartwatch very soon.
For people who follow Apple this lawsuit must evoke memories of the non-stop patent wars they have been involved in with Samsung in recent years. Apple filed lawsuits over such important patents like “a phone which is rectangular in shape and white” and also “a phone which is rectangular in shape and black” (yes, seriously).
But this particular patent is on something a little more sophisticated than a particular shape and colour. This lawsuit is alleging that Apple have violated her patent pending for the “Detachable Beeper Disc Digital Gym Shoe Computer Watch.” She claims that she had this idea all the way back in the 1990’s.
She claims that the technology giant produced the Apple Watch before she had the chance to develop her own watch. The 67-year-old said, “They gave me no respect or anything, to call me. They just took action to create the watch.” Apple have yet to release official sales figures, but analysts told Fortune Magazine that they have sold over 6 million watches. Washington-Gross is adding to the Apple Watch woes by asking for $2 billion.
However, it’s important to note that this is not the first time that Daisy Washington-Gross has sued a multinational firm. In 2000 she sued fitness firm Rebook, claiming that they infringed her patent for the “Beeper Disc Digital Detchable (sic) Gym Shoe, Disc Digital with Time/Step Sensor Scanner Devices, Mirco-Chips (sic).” She wrote that “I invented the first gym shoe, to help athletic’s time their feet [sic].” The case was dismissed the following year, although she did attempt to open it again earlier this year.
Washington-Gross also claims that Nike have infringed her patent for the “Detachable Beeper Disc Digital Gym Shoe with Sensor” by producing the Nike+ Sensor. Her complaint states that she sent a letter to Nike asking whether they could have a shoe ready before the 1996 Olympics. Nike do not appear to have followed up on this letter; however, the Nike+ Sensor was released in 2006. She is asking for $3 billion from Nike.
Both Apple and Nike have 21 days to respond in court upon being served – as long as a judge allows the case to continue.
