Lawsuit accuses Apple's Mac OS X Disk Utility of patent infringement
Software Restore Solutions filed the suit against Apple this week in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. Apple is accused of violating U.S. Patent No. 5,832,511, entitled "Workgroup Network Manager for Controlling the Operation of Workstations Within the Computer Network."
Specifically, Apple has been accused of violating claim 32 in the invention, which describes "a method of computer management automatically resetting a computer to a preferred configuration by executing system configuration instructions." In this way, a system would compare a previous computer status to the current condition of the computer.
The lawsuit notes that Apple's Disk Utility feature has been available in all versions of Mac OS X since its first release. It notes that the feature can "repair functionality for automatically resetting a software application to a preferred configuration."
Found in Mac OS X, Disk Utility offers users the ability to accomplish a number of tasks, including erasing, formatting and partitioning of hard drives. it also includes Run First Aid, which can repair damaged file systems.
The original patent, granted to Robert Earl Beck and Ronald L. Schoenberger in 1998, describes a library of programs maintained on a host workstation. That workstation keeps track of activity occurring on individual workstations within a networked workgroup.
The invention also includes a file maintenance and inventory system that compares the attributes of files, directories and software located on the workstation to identify discrepancies or locate missing items throughout the workgroup.
Software Restore Solutions has asked that the court bar Apple from selling products it believes are infringing. The company also seeks damages "not less than a reasonable royalty."
37 Comments
Do these clowns even realize that Disk Utility is not "sold" but comes with the OS? What do they expect courts to do, ban the whole Operating System for some 13 year old Patent?
What a joke.
Software Patents are a joke. Further evidence of it. US Patent System needs a serious make-over, but nobody cares, so money is constantly wasted on Court Fees instead. Ridiculous.
Do these clowns even realize that Disk Utility is not "sold" but comes with the OS? What do they expect courts to do, ban the whole Operating System for some 13 year old Patent?.
That's what it reads like. It's not uncommon for "old" patents to be used in infringement claims. Apple has done so itself.
And yes, I agree with you that the current aggressive posture taken by several in the mobile playground is completely ridiculous.
They patented going to a backup?
I can't believe how the law system has degraded. This is getting out of hand. What's next, the finger is patented and well all must pay or get amputations?
That's what it reads like. It's not uncommon for "old" patents to be used in infringement claims. Apple has done so itself.
And yes, I agree with you that the current aggressive posture taken by several in the mobile playground is completely ridiculous.
Someone should check and see if these guys are somehow related to Samsung. Might be their payback for the Galaxy stuff happening in the EU.
Besides that, who waits 10 years to cite Patent Infringement? Someone who wants cash. Duh. Should be rather obvious to the Courts, hopefully they won't waste too much time on this.