A Michigan woman is suing Apple and Nike for a combined $5 billion over claims that the two companies stole her concept for a device called a “Detachable Beeper Disc Digital Gym Shoe with Sensor.” She states that she filed a patent for her invention 20 years ago, well before the companies came up with their own, similar products — namely, the Apple Watch and the Nike+ smart running system.
While she’s seeking $3 billion from Nike, she’s only looking for $2 billion from Apple, so Cupertino’s getting off relatively light on this one.
Daisy Washington-Gross filed her paperwork on April 8, and she offers some slightly confusing evidence to support her claims. In the Nike suit, she says she wrote a letter pitching her idea to Robert Lyden, who was a “patents and inventions assistant” at the time, and Thomas Horgan, an assistant secretary.
“I wanted to see if Nike could have a shoe ready for the 1996 Olympics,” Washington says.
As proof of Nike’s infringement on her idea, the plaintiff presents a link to a page on DIY site Instructables that shows you how you can cut a hole for a Nike+ sensor in any pair of running shoes.
The complaint against Apple says simply that the company didn’t “write or call” her before it made the Apple Watch, which she says is a total rip-off of the “sensor” part of her patent.
“I would like a jury trial to prove the Patent Infringement of their ‘Apple Computer Wrist Watch’ and be awarded (2) Two Billion Dollars because of their infringement and because I was the first to put in for a patent for a ‘computer wrist watch,'” she says in her claim.
We couldn’t find any record of Washington’s patent, possibly because the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office never awarded it to her. Unfortunately, “putting in” a patent doesn’t automatically mean an idea is yours; the office still needs to approve it.
And this isn’t even the first time Washington has sued over this idea. In 2000, she filed another, slightly confusing complaint against Reebok. A judge dismissed that case the following year.
Evan Killham is a freelance writer who lives in Nebraska and isn’t interested in football, so he has plenty of time to play and think about video games. He has written for Bitmob and GamesBeat and sometimes, he even goes outside. But not too often because he’s heard there are bees out there. Occasionally, companies send free units for review. Evan subscribes to Cult of Mac’s Reviews Policy and also does not keep the items he receives for possible coverage.
9 responses to “$2 billion lawsuit claims Apple Watch idea was stolen”
Detachable Beeper Disc Digital Gym Shoe with Sensor? Another parasite trolling for money.
im gonna go ahead and patent “consumer computing device that is faster than current consumer computing devices.” I see a big payday in my future.
“Some sort of thing that does something”
According to section 154a of Title 35 of the United States Code, that patent in question, if it ever exists AND the inventor had paid the maintenance fee for the whole duration, which is USD$ 6300 for each claim entity, had already been expired.
According to section 69a of Title 69 of the Code of Imtough, you’re a huge nerd and tryhard. Do less, Dick Liu, way less.
Yeah, I’m a nerd that holds 40 patents and a six figure salary job. Loser.
HARDOOOO ALERTTTTT- HAHAHAHA. WHAT A TOOL. I also make well over six figures and have slept with 40 more WOMEN- Tell me how your patents work and I’ll tell you what a vagina feels like. I’m guessing by your last name you’re hung like a mouse HAHAHA.
100% this woman wears a tinfoil hat to ward off aliens reading her mind and has a pride of 100 felines taking up residence in her 1960’s decorated, mothball-smelling home.
Good ideas are a dime a dozen. Actually manifesting an idea into reality? Now that’s where the real work is.