Chinese company accuses Apple of stealing Siri technology

A Chinese company is accusing Apple of copying the technology that the Cupertino, California-based company uses for its Siri software, according to an article in Business Insider. 

Siri, Apple's "intelligent" personal assistant app, allows users to ask questions that the program will respond to in its own "voice." Siri was released on the iPhone 4S in 2011 and is included in all subsequent models. It is also available on the third-generation iPad and up.

Zhizhen Network Technology Co. is accusing Apple of stealing the intellectual property for "Xiao i Robot," voice technology for which the company received a patent in 2006. The two programs are relatively similar—according to an article in the Huffington Post, both look and sound alike when being used. They can also handle the same tasks that mostly include basic internet search.

In addition, Xiao i Robot operates on smartphones, tablets and other devices, and is used by 100 million people in China.

Arguing in court this week, Apple's lawyers claimed that both programs use different technology, even though they operate in a similar manner. 

Spokespeople for Zhizhen Network Technology, however, were adamant.

"We think Siri infringes our patent right in the word chat," spokeswoman Mei Li told the Shanghai Daily. "We want them to stop it as everyone can see iPhones and iPads are widely sold in China."

This is not the first lawsuit Apple has found itself in over its products. Such actions are actually quite common for large tech companies. Consult with a Phoenix business attorney to defend your intellectual property.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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