Imaging technology company Imatec Ltd has slapped Apple Computer Inc with a $1.1bn patent infringement suit, filed this week in the US District Court in New York. The New York-based company – which markets its proprietary image reproduction enhancement technology – alleges that Apple has infringed on three of its patents by its making, using, and/or selling its ‘ColorSync’ color management systems and inducing others to do so. The technology at the center of the allegations pertains to the correction of tone and color in computerized generated images. Imatec says it never had any relationship with Apple and that while Apple didn’t steal its technology in a strict sense, it developed and used technology that is covered specifically by the Imatec patents and therefore infringes them. The company wouldn’t comment further on the suit The company is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction in addition to the $1.1bn in damages. It has requested a trial by jury to decide all issues in the case and says it’s confident that the patents will be upheld in court. The patents in question were issued to Imatec president and chief executive Hanoch Shalit, who licensed them exclusively licensed to Imatec.
