Typo Keyboard, an iPhone case offered by the startup company co-founded by celebrity 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest, has earned the ire of BlackBerry, which has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in California. BlackBerry said it was "flattered" that Typo Products LLC wanted to "graft" its keyboard on non-BlackBerry smartphones but it will not tolerate "such activity without fair compensation" for using its intellectual property and our technological innovations. Typo has retorted by saying BlackBerry's lawsuit has no merit and it will vigorously defend itself in the court.
Typo gives the iPhone a physical keyboard. The accessory essentially makes the Apple smartphone similar to BlackBerry and because of this, the handset manufacturer known for its iconic physical keyboards, has sued Typo for patent infringement.
The Los Angeles-based startup plans to officially market the $99-iPhone QWERTY keyboard this month after its official unveiling at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas.
"This is a blatant infringement against BlackBerry's iconic keyboard, and we will vigorously protect our intellectual property against any company that attempts to copy our unique design. From the beginning, BlackBerry has always focused on offering an exceptional typing experience that combines a great design with ergonomic excellence," said BlackBerry Chief Legal Officer Steve Zipperstein in a press statement.
"The Typo Keyboard violates BlackBerry's intellectual property rights, and BlackBerry will protect those rights from blatant copying and infringement. BlackBerry's iconic physical keyboard designs have been recognized by the press and the public as a significant market differentiator for its mobile handheld devices. This lawsuit has been filed in the Northern District of California," the company's statement read.
BlackBerry has been struggling in recent years with the emergence of the iPhone and posted losses of as much $4.4. billion in the most recent quarter. The company has also introduced touchscreen smartphones in an attempt to catch up with the times but the move has not helped much with its comeback.
BlackBerry has also been going through a major retructuring at the top level after new CEO John Chen took over the helm in November from Thorsten Heins. It also ended its relationship with its Global Creative Director, the celebrity singer Alicia Keys, a decision seen by many as a cost-cutting effort.
Typo has released an emailed statement to Tech Times, saying it "respects" BlackBerry but the latter's lawsuit has "no merit."
"We are aware of the lawsuit that Blackberry filed against Typo Products. Although we respect Blackberry and its intellectual property, we believe that Blackberry's claims against Typo lack merit and we intend to defend the case vigorously. We are excited about our innovative keyboard design, which is the culmination of years of development and research. The Typo keyboard has garnered an overwhelmingly positive response from the public. We are also looking forward to our product launch at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week and remain on track to begin shipping pre-orders at the end of January," company spokesperson Joanne Freed said..
BlackBerry has not disclosed the details of the patent violated by Typo. Ryan Seacrest, who has substantial interest in Typo, could not be reached for comments.
