Claims patent infringement - but is Apple responsible?
Emblaze has issued a press release accusing Apple of infringing its media streaming technology patents with an iPhone live streaming video app.
"Emblaze Ltd. has recently notified Apple Inc. that the HTTP Live Streaming Application announced by Apple and intended for use in Apple's iPhone and iPod touch devices, infringes Emblaze's U.S. patent for media streaming technology," says the release.
Which is a bit baffling, because as far as we remember, Apple hasn't announced that it's making an HTTP live streaming app for iPhone.
What has happened this week, though, is a flurry of press coverage around the release of Knocking Live Video, an app from developer Pointy Heads that lets iPhone users stream live video directly to other iPhones.
The coverage focused on the fact that the app went live only after Steve Jobs' personal intervention to ensure it was approved - according to Pointy Heads.
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Could this be the infringing app that Emblaze is referring to? And if so, why is the company "notifying" Apple, rather than suing Pointy Heads?
Emblaze's release says it has offered "to license Apple under Emblaze's patented technology", while pointing out that the tech is being used in its new ELSE handset, which was unveiled last week.
It's all very rum. Watch this space for more developments. EDIT: As a commenter below suggests, Emblaze may be targeting Apple because the Knocking Live app is using one of Apple's private iPhone APIs to handle the live streaming.
