Apple Sued Over Infringing Upon File Viewing Patent

Cupertino company has been using file viewing feature for several years.

Apple has, for the umpteenth time, found itself back in court over alleged patent infringement. WhitServe (PDF) is suing the firm for purportedly infringing upon a file viewing patent.

The firm argues that Apple's Quick Look function, which made its debut back in 2007 on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard with the feature now integrated on all current Mac systems, breaches its U.S. Patent No. 7,921,139.

Entitled "System for sequentially opening and displaying files in a directory," the patent relates to software being able to open and close files in a near full-view mode. Apple's Quick Look enables users to view a folders' content without having to open the folder itself.

WhitServe, however, claims its software also allows users to view multiple files and edit them, with the software's licence being used by numerous unnamed organizations. 

The "harm to WhitServe resulting from the infringing acts of Apple is irreparable, continuing [and] not fully compensable by money damages." Subsequently, the firm is pursuing a "preliminary and permanent" injunction against Apple, accompanied by court fees and damages.

It should be noted that WhitServe's application for the patent was submitted in 2006, with the authorities granting it on April 5, 2011.

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