Apple sued by Elan over touch screen patents

Elan Microelectronics, a component design company based in Taiwan, has sued Apple over patents involving display technology, according to Reuters. The company claims Apple has infringed on two of its touch screen patents with the MacBook, iPhone and iPod touch. Elan argues that it owns the rights to methods involved with detecting the position of fingers on a touch screen or touch pad.

The company did not disclose the magnitude or type of damages it was seeking, although the lawyers will seek an injunction to prevent Apple from selling any of the related products. A similar suit against Synaptics allegedly ended in Elan’s favor.

Apple is not a stranger to patent lawsuits. SP Technologies, based in Florida, initiated a lawsuit in 2007 over patents related to the touch screen keyboard used in the iPhone and iPod touch interface. In a separate case filed late last year, EMG Technology accused the company of violating patents involving Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and screen manipulation technologies for zoom and scroll functions.

The current legal battle with Elan is still in the initial stages of paperwork submission. Apple’s defense and course of action remains unknown, although the company could file to have the case dismissed.