There is no denying that Apple is one of the giants in the tech realm that extends beyond all horizons of the world. However, even big giants can steal ideas. Although, we are not asserting that Apple has stolen ideas, but we can never really be sure of a firm’s honesty, no matter how well-respected the firm is.

A man Richard L.Ditzik has decided to sue Apple for stealing his smartphone idea. Richard L.Ditzik’s lawyer, Ray Niro, says that Richard filed a patent of a smartphone that is quite like the iPhone in 1997, and that Apple ‘shamelessly’ stole the idea.

Richard L Ditzik is a 70 year old electrical engineer and inventor, and is the owner of NetAirus Technologies LLC.

The patent is titled, “Wireless handset communication system.” The patent abstract delineates a device that can send “bi-directional realtime communications of voice, audio, text, graphics and video data.”

Ray Niro, Richard’s lawyer, says the following:

“Apple somewhere along the line lost their way. They lost their sense of responsibility.”

NetAirus’s lawyers have taken up Steve Job’s claim, “We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas,” to strengthen their case. In response, Apple’s lawyer, Mark Scarsi, has asserted that Richard’s idea was not of a smartphone, but rather of a using the computer as a cell phone.

Furthermore, NetAirus has not claimed any substantial claims for damages, and has only demanded a payment of half a million dollars. However, industry analysts claim that if Apple loses, the impact of this loss will reverberate around the entire industry, in the shape of Samsung and HTC paying NetAirus for patent licensing.

[via wallstcheatsheet.com]