About a month ago we reported on an interesting iPhone accessory called the Typo, which was basically a case for the iPhone that gave it a physical keyboard. What helped the device gain more attention was the fact that it was partially funded by celebrity and television host, Ryan Seacrest, who invested in the company and its products.While the Typo case does seem like a great idea, unfortunately its design is reminiscent of BlackBerry’s keyboard which is used prominently in the company’s handsets, such as the BlackBerry Q10, for example, which is why it does not come as a complete surprise to learn that BlackBerry has decided to sue Typo over the alleged infringement of BlackBerry’s keyboard design.
According to a statement released by BlackBerry, “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. We are flattered by the desire to graft our keyboard onto other smartphones, but we will not tolerate such activity without fair compensation for using our intellectual property and our technological innovations.”
It is unclear if BlackBerry is seeking an injunction or licensing from the creators of Typo, although we have to admit that the company does have a pretty strong case as the design of the keyboard has design aspects that one might associate with BlackBerry handsets. Typo is not the first keyboard accessory for the iPhone, as we have seen in the past, and with a debut pegged for CES 2014 next week, we’re not sure how this lawsuit might affect that.
What do you guys think? Does BlackBerry have a case here?
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