Apple filed a lawsuit against Sanho, the maker of HyperMac portable battery chargers, for patent infringement. According to the filing, the HyperMac product line infringes on six different patents related to Apple’s MagSafe charger connector, the iPod and iPhone dock connector, and cables.
The complaint against Sanho states, in part, “Sanho, the defendants, manufacture, distribute and/or sell products that infringe patents relating to Apple’s proprietary MagSafe connectors used to connect power adapters and other products to Apple’s portable computers, such as the MacBook.”
Apple’s filing goes on to claim “Defendants also manufacture, distribute and/or sell products that infringe patents relating to apple’s 30-pin connectors and receptacles, used to connect cables to Apple iPod, iPhone, and/or iPad products.”
The HyperMac product line includes several sizes of portable chargers for Apple’s MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, as well as the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and iPod.
Since Apple’s laptops all use a proprietary magnetic charger connector, Sanho has been collecting and using cables built by Apple in its own products. Apple alleges the company doesn’t have permission to use the cables and MagSafe connectors it culls from other sources.
Apple also claimed it notified Sanho of the patent infringement issues on April 26, May 19 and June 22, 2010.
Apple filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Northern California, and is asking for damages, an injunction blocking Sanho from infringing on its patents, and a trial by jury.
[Thanks to Patently Apple for the heads up.]