Apple Faces Lawsuit After Allegedly Copying Keyboard Design It Previously Banned
Image via Apple
At Apple’s ‘California Streaming’ event last week, the tech giant introduced the brand-new Apple Watch Series 7. The displays are now larger, going from 40mm and 44mm to 41mm and 45mm respectively. It’s also the first time Apple is adding a full on-screen keyboard to the watch.
However, US-based competitor FlickType isn’t too happy, alleging that the new keyboard looks similar to the one it designed in 2018, which was previously banned from the App Store.
FlickType’s app (left) VS Apple Watch’s version (right)
“So now we know [why],” tweeted by Flicktype’s founder and developer, Kosta Eleftheriou.
Three years ago, Eleftheriou and his partners had come up with a similar predictive keyboard, which was first designed for the visually impaired, elderly, and those who need help to send and receive messages seamlessly.
It was one of the most popular paid watchOS apps in the App Store for a short period of time, though Apple eventually took down the site even after a series of appeals.
Some now think Apple has lifted the design from Flicktype and made it its own, as there aren’t many other ways to access a watch keyboard otherwise.
So now we know. See you in court, @Apple. https://t.co/hJtPI2Z83J pic.twitter.com/1s7MUSLTpc
— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) September 14, 2021
[via Verdict, images via various sources]
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