Apple is facing a law suit over their new watchOS keyboard

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Apple sued over watchOS keyboard

FlickType founder Kosta Eleftheriou is suing Apple over its new typing feature on the Watch 7, which he claims is similar to FlickType's watchOS keyboard.

Eleftheriou, the software developer whose team was responsible for FlickType, has filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that Apple used its authority over the App Store to impede its advancement.
 
I honestly dont understand big corporate at times. How did Apple think that the developer of the software they were going to steal would not sue them? How did that meeting go? I just dont get it, I mean the Flicktype folks would have the records to show that they did it first, they would have an easy case for showing that its their product.
 
friedpiggy said:
I honestly dont understand big corporate at times. How did Apple think that the developer of the software they were going to steal would not sue them? How did that meeting go? I just dont get it, I mean the Flicktype folks would have the records to show that they did it first, they would have an easy case for showing that its their product.
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Apple can afford more expensive lawyers than Flicktype.
 
friedpiggy said:
I honestly dont understand big corporate at times. How did Apple think that the developer of the software they were going to steal would not sue them? How did that meeting go? I just dont get it, I mean the Flicktype folks would have the records to show that they did it first, they would have an easy case for showing that its their product.
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He is suing because of loss of income for the time they took it off the store (for some stupid reason) not because they 'stole' the idea. Not like this guy invented touch input now is it? Plus there are other already existing keyboards for WatchOS.
 
prOd said:
He is suing because of loss of income for the time they took it off the store (for some stupid reason) not because they 'stole' the idea. Not like this guy invented touch input now is it? Plus there are other already existing keyboards for WatchOS.
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Did you even read the article?

FlickType is also suing Apple for fraud.

“Apple’s promise to help developers build, test, market, and distribute their products and grow their business through a secure, trusted, and accessible marketplace is just a facade designed to wrongfully entice developers to the App Store,” the lawsuit says.
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Crowley said:
Did you even read the article?
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My response was to the idea that he is suing because they stole his idea, which is not true - there are already many other keyboard apps on the store and even his own app is still on there : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flicktype-watch-keyboard/id1359485719


Yes he is suing for fraud as you indicated, as in App review fraud because he believes the App Store guidelines are being misused to gain some advantage to Apple themselves, once again not because they 'stole' his keyboard.
 
prOd said:
My response was to the idea that he is suing because they stole his idea, which is not true - there are already many other keyboard apps on the store and even his own app is still on there : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flicktype-watch-keyboard/id1359485719
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Did you miss this part of the article?
FlickType enables users to type directly on their watch face, and its developers say that Apple applauded the technology and introduced it at Apple’s headquarters in 2019.

Following the presentation, “Apple threw up roadblock after roadblock that made no sense”, the lawsuit stated.

The obstacles placed by Apple resulted in FlickType being kept off the App Store for almost a year.

Once it made it onto the App Store successfully, the application was then impaired by “scam applications” which allegedly used fake reviews to boost downloads.

FlickType is also suing Apple for fraud.
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In the complaint, Eleftheriou goes further into detail about what he claims is wrongful behavior from Apple, including alleged false advertising, breach of its developer agreement, and fraud. One notable claim involves Apple trying to acquire FlickType, after which Eleftheriou says he faced “roadblock after roadblock” to selling his software on the App Store. The complaint suggests Apple chose not to take action on scam and copycat apps in an effort to force Eleftheriou to sell his app to Apple. “Evidently, Apple thought Plaintiff would simply give up and sell its application to Apple at a discount,” the complaint reads.

At the heart of the dispute appears to be conversations Eleftheriou had with an Apple executive Randy Marsden, who led mobile keyboard technology at the company and later held the position of Text Input Special Projects Manager. Marsden is well known in the tech industry for co-founding the keyboard technology startup Swype, and for later co-founding the app Dryft, which was acquired by Apple in 2015. The acquisition resulted in Marsden being put in charge of the iOS keyboard at Apple from 2014 to 2018.

“APPLE SYSTEMATICALLY FLEXES ITS MONOPOLY MUSCLE AGAINST POTENTIAL COMPETITION THROUGH THE APP STORE”
Eleftheriou says he was approached by Marsden, who expressed interest in having Apple acquire his software to improve typing on the Apple Watch. Yet, the negotiations went quiet, and afterward, Eleftheriou claims Apple removed his FlickType keyboard app and refused to approve future versions as well as a note-taking variant, on what he thinks are suspicious grounds.
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https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/18/...uit-kosta-eleftheriou-flicktype-ios-developer

Seriously, what type of clown at Apple thinks that this is a clever way to do business? They still make money if the app sells well on the App store and the developer doesn't want to sell. Which means that there is no need to do the stupid thing and kick the app off the store.
 
prOd said:
No I didn't, did you miss the second part of my post you quoted?
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No I didn't, that's why I bolded the "also" as it's not the only thing he is suing them for.
 
Wait. How is flicktype different from Swype? Or any of the current keyboards that let you type by dragging your finger?
 
C4Cat said:
No I didn't, that's why I bolded the "also" as it's not the only thing he is suing them for.
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I know that, as I indicated literally 2 lines down in the post you deliberately half quoted...
 
prOd said:
I know that, as I indicated literally 2 lines down in the post you deliberately half quoted...
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It was a misunderstanding then, I only quoted the part I was responding to. I still looks to me, from your post that you think fraud is the only thing they are suing for. But anyway, moving on....
 
GhostSixFour said:
Wait. How is flicktype different from Swype? Or any of the current keyboards that let you type by dragging your finger?
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I don't think Swype exists anymore and I'm not sure how many keyboards there are for watchOS
 
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