NCR, a computer system company best known for banking ATMs, is
suing Palm and Handspring, alleging that their respective personal
digital assistant (PDA) products infringe its patents. NCR says it
designed a PDA 20 years ago.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, NCR claims to have
patented a hand-held computer with its own cradle or docking
station in 1987 although the company does not now compete in the
PDA market.
In the lawsuit filed in a Delaware court, NCR said it 20 years
ago designed "a revolutionary new device and system for handling
and transmitting data" small enough to fit in the user’s hand. NCR
claims its design incorporated many of the same tools that exist in
the popular Palm Pilot or Handspring Visor PDAs.
The lawsuit claims that Palm and Handspring knew of the NCR
patent but decided not to seek licences.
