Patently Apple has discovered a recent patent filed by Apple gives hint at a device that is similar to an iMac with touch functionality.
Many have expected Apple to eventually release a device that incorporates both the Mac model, and concepts from their touch devices. It will be interesting to see if Apple decides to pull threw with this device, often times companies will file pattens just to protect their ideas. Apple is notorious for filling things that never get released.
According to the report, the patent also gives hint that Apple would be switching from their Mac OS X operating system for iOS mobile operating system.
Some believe that Apple might purposely file false or misleading patents for devices that never make light. One group is also attempting to sue Apple over these misleading patent applications. According to the article the lawsuit is called a qui tam action and according to a Department of Justice explanation is part of the false claims act.
The statute, first passed in 1863, includes an ancient legal device called a “qui tam” provision (from a Latin phrase meaning “he who brings a case on behalf of our lord the King, as well as for himself”). This provision allows a private person, known as a “relator,” to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States, where the private person has information that the named defendant has knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false or fraudulent claims to the United States. The relator need not have been personally harmed by the defendant’s conduct.
