Apple Sued Over iPhone Safari Browser Tech

Apple has been sued by LA real estate developer Elliot Gottfurcht over technology used in the mobile version of Safari found on the iPhone.  The suit claims that technology used by the Safari browser to navigate and display mobile-formatted sites infringes on a patent obtained in October 2008 by EMG Technology LLC, a company founded by Gottfurcht and two co-inventors.

While the patent likely has implications for other mobile browsers, such as those found on HTC and RIM devices, Gottfurcht's lawyers are upfront about their specifically targeting Apple and their market-leading handset.  "We haven't looked at anything other than the iPhone," lawyer Stanley Gibson, a partner with the Los Angeles law firm Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro revealed.  "That was the device that we looked at. Obviously it's very popular."

Apple have declined to comment on the situation, stating that they do not comment on pending litigation.  If EMG's patent is upheld, however, it could have implications not only for the iPhone but for any other device capable of viewing mobile-formated content.