Apple sues Sanho Corporation for six patents violation

As it became known, earlier this month Apple filed a lawsuit against Sanho Corporation producing accessories for Macs and iOS devices, requesting a trial by jury and the awarding of damages of an amount to be determined during the trial. 

In its lawsuit, filed in the District Court for the Northern District of California, Apple alleged Sanho's products, many of which use the Apple's MagSafe power connector and its 30-pin dock connector, violation of six of its patents.

Despite,  MagSafe has been around since the introduction of the MacBook in 2006, Apple has never licensed the connector to third-parties, much to the chagrin of accessory makers everywhere.

 Instead, Sanho had to turn to the somewhat clever approach of actually buying up MagSafe power adapters and repurposing the MagSafe connectors into their products, such as its HyperMac external batteries.

The 30-pin dock connector is also at issue in the case. While Apple does license the connector under its Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad programs, Sanho does not appear to be a licensee of any of those programs.

Apple may have a harder time in the case of the MagSafe connector, since, as Ars Technica points out, it's possible that the repurposing of the MagSafe connectors is covered by the doctrine of first sale, which limits Apple's rights to a product's usage after it's been legally purchased.

As it became known, earlier this month Apple filed a lawsuit against Sanho Corporation producing accessories for Macs and iOS devices, requesting a trial by jury and the awarding of damages of an amount to be determined during the trial.

In its lawsuit, filed in the District Court for the Northern District of California, Apple alleged Sanho's products, many of which use the Apple's MagSafe power connector and its 30-pin dock connector, violation of six of its patents.

Despite,  MagSafe has been around since the introduction of the MacBook in 2006, Apple has never licensed the connector to third-parties, much to the chagrin of accessory makers everywhere.

 Instead, Sanho had to turn to the somewhat clever approach of actually buying up MagSafe power adapters and repurposing the MagSafe connectors into their products, such as its HyperMac external batteries.

The 30-pin dock connector is also at issue in the case. While Apple does license the connector under its Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad programs, Sanho does not appear to be a licensee of any of those programs.

Apple may have a harder time in the case of the MagSafe connector, since, as Ars Technica points out, it's possible that the repurposing of the MagSafe connectors is covered by the doctrine of first sale, which limits Apple's rights to a product's usage after it's been legally purchased.