Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Typo's Smartphone Keyboard Business Comes to an End Following BlackBerry Lawsuits

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,563
37,946



BlackBerry and Typo Keyboard have reached the end of a lengthy lawsuit over Typo's BlackBerry-esque iPhone case that adds a physical keyboard to the Apple product (via The Verge). The lawsuit dating back to January 2014 argued that Typo, which saw significant publicity due to Ryan Seacrest's backing, willfully infringed on patents and "blatantly copied" BlackBerry's keyboard design. Today's settlement brings the news that Typo now essentially is prevented from making keyboards for any smartphone in the future.

typoiphone6.jpg

While neither company released the full settlement terms, a brief press release from BlackBerry notes that Typo has agreed not to produce keyboards for devices with screens smaller than 7.9 inches. This essentially precludes Typo from making keyboards for any smartphone, but leaves the door open for keyboards for tablets or any other device with a screen larger than 7.9 inches.
As part of the settlement, Typo Products LLC, Typo Innovations LLC, Show Media LLC, Hallier Investments LLC, and Laurence Hallier have agreed to permanently discontinue selling anywhere in the world keyboards for smartphones and mobile devices with a screen size of less than 7.9 inches. Typo Products LLC, Typo Innovations LLC, Show Media LLC, Hallier Investments LLC, and Laurence Hallier may continue to sell keyboards for devices with a screen size of 7.9 inches or larger. Other terms of the settlement are confidential.
Click to expand...
Thanks to BlackBerry's constant pursuit of a lawsuit against the company, the Typo Keyboard for iPhone faced a very rocky road since its debut in January of 2014. Typo kept moving forward, however, just last December introducing the Typo2 for iPhone 6 that the company promised was designed to avoid the legal pitfalls of its previous case. BlackBerry was unconvinced, however, once again filing suit against Typo over the new product in February.

Article Link: Typo's Smartphone Keyboard Business Comes to an End Following BlackBerry Lawsuits
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/01/typo-blackberry-settlement/
Cyberpower678 said:
I can't believe BlackBerry is making such a fuss over this. BlackBerries are horrible anyway. I speak from repeated experience. They're slow and clunky, and not very intuitive.
Click to expand...

Well, exactly. The BlackBerry keyboard is technically the only "feature" they have for their phones.

Besides, physical keyboards are totally out, and Typo wasn't a good idea to begin with. Seriously, look at that thing. Makes your new iPhone clunker and more difficult to hold, use regularly and to type on.

Besides, who here thinks Typo is really the best choice of a name for this company...?! :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ilovemyibook and rbrian
Cyberpower678 said:
I can't believe BlackBerry is making such a fuss over this. BlackBerries are horrible anyway. I speak from repeated experience. They're slow and clunky, and not very intuitive.
Click to expand...

Well, if you can't compete in the market legitimately, you can always sue those that do. I'm sure they got a nice chunk of change for this settlement, probably equal to how much money they made off the dozens of phones they sold this quarter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheRealTVGuy
It's silly in the end that BB won this but you'd have to wonder if the product actually sold "well" before they just got this court order.
 
BlackBerry was suing over Typo using their IP, I'm not sure why this isn't obvious to folks. Even if they're not doing well as a company, should they just have let Typo run wild selling those products? The keyboard looks like it came out of a BlackBerry lab.

If this were a Samsung v Apple lawsuit, it would be interesting to see how the replies changed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GenesisST, caliguy and rbrian
They should of gone for a commission on every one sold, they at least would of made some money that way, either:

  1. People mistakenly thinking their iPhone was a Blackberry and thinking it was so cool I must get me ones of those, or
  2. I really want my iPhone to work like a blackberry.... well at least by the 1st option!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rbrian
Since at least 2 years ago, Blackberry was no longer in the running in the smartphone business. They had their 'time in the sun' with push email but they held out on that feature for way too long and didn't innovate; not really. The keyboard brought a kinda following I guess, and I can see why they threw the book at Typo for this.
Personally I think this is a nice win for them, the guys need wins right now. I never liked that Ryan guy anyway, smarmy sod.
Go at it Blackberry! I came from the days of the Psion Series 5 MX and can really appreciate a device with an awesome keyboard design. Blackberry still have amazing potential. Incidentally, anyone checked out the Waytools TextBlade yet ?
:cool:
 
Last edited:
Mr_Brightside_@ said:
BlackBerry was suing over Typo using their IP, I'm not sure why this isn't obvious to folks. Even if they're not doing well as a company, should they just have let Typo run wild selling those products? The keyboard looks like it came out of a BlackBerry lab.

If this were a Samsung v Apple lawsuit, it would be interesting to see how the replies changed.
Click to expand...

BlackBerry is the only phone maker left that's trying to do a physical keyboard, in that respect most any keyboard attachment you make for a phone is going to invoke BlackBerry somewhat. I'm not really sure in my opinion that the accessory looked like a direct clone of the BB keyboard.
 
I really don't understand how they thought they could get away with it without a lawsuit by Blackberry. Ryan Seacrest definitely needs to stick to his radio show and probably get some new advisors.
 
I'm surprised about the stipulation that they're not allowed to manufacture smartphone keyboards of any kind, anywhere in the world. Really? Blackberry believes their "innovation" is that distinctive that they can ban any physical keyboard design on a smartphone?

I'm no lawyer, but I doubt if this had been fully litigated, Blackberry really would've had a leg to stand on. More likely, Typo realized that the market for these things (like Blackberry smartphones themselves) is so small and unsustainable that they could'n't pay their own bills, much less their lawyers. So this is a nice face-saving way of folding up shop.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flyinmac and rbrian
I almost feel sorry for Blackberry. I remember wanting their phones so much for the smartphone era began. Their keyboard were awesome.
This typo product definitely wasn't going sale well. You're covering the most important button on your iPhone.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Reason077
scaredpoet said:
I'm surprised about the stipulation that they're not allowed to manufacture smartphone keyboards of any kind, anywhere in the world. Really? Blackberry believes their "innovation" is that distinctive that they can ban any physical keyboard design on a smartphone?

I'm no lawyer, but I doubt if this had been fully litigated, Blackberry really would've had a leg to stand on. More likely, Typo realized that the market for these things (like Blackberry smartphones themselves) is so small and unsustainable that they could'n't pay their own bills, much less their lawyers. So this is a nice face-saving way of folding up shop.
Click to expand...

I have a feeling that is exactly the case. The cost of a court battle is outrageously expensive. I'm surprised that Blackberry didn't try to license their "keyboard" design to Typo just to rake in some of the profits. Of course, since we don't have the exact details of the settlement, who knows.
 
Did they stop because of lawsuits? Or because, really, nobody wants or needs a tiny little keyboard on an iPhone?
 
Cyberpower678 said:
I can't believe BlackBerry is making such a fuss over this. BlackBerries are horrible anyway. I speak from repeated experience. They're slow and clunky, and not very intuitive.
Click to expand...

Whether you like physical keyboards or not has no bearing on what Typo did-- STEAL. They stole BB's distinctive keyboard design. Period. A good lawsuit for a change! Maybe Ryan can "invent" a television show where they pick people who they think can make it as stars/entertainers and they give them 15 minutes of fame and then they go away.
 
Wait, BB makes touchscreen phones with a physical keyboard? Is that true. If that is, wow... and both companies should go away now.
 
Don't understand this, now no one can make cellphones with physical keyboard except blackberry?
 
  • Like
Reactions: flyinmac
The fact that even the latest iteration of the Typo keyboard covered up Touch ID would've made it a non-starter for many in the subset of people who would've considered purchasing one in the first place, I suspect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rbrian
I'm not surprised by the successful lawsuits, but interesting given that Apple has recently lost out to Samsung on the fact that the iPhone can be indeed copied. Makes me wonder if that ruling would affect anything like this Typo/Blackberry ruling in the future.

ie. anything can be copied now.

Unless I'm completely off on what I've read. Which is entirely possible :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back