Visually, it looks a lot less like a copy of a BlackBerry keyboard, so that helps.
The first patent quoted in that lawsuit article has expired [1]. The second patent is still active [2], but is related to a "ramped-key keyboard" (essentially curved), which this new product is not AFAICT.
The third, a design patent [3], is still active, but would appear to only apply to a complete handheld device that includes an attached keyboard, not a separate accessory... Not a lawyer or patent expert by any means though.
I guess we'll see - none of that stops anyone from suing them.
The first patent quoted in that lawsuit article has expired [1]. The second patent is still active [2], but is related to a "ramped-key keyboard" (essentially curved), which this new product is not AFAICT.
The third, a design patent [3], is still active, but would appear to only apply to a complete handheld device that includes an attached keyboard, not a separate accessory... Not a lawyer or patent expert by any means though.
I guess we'll see - none of that stops anyone from suing them.
[1]: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7629964B2/en?oq=7%2c629%...
[2]: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8162552B2/en?oq=8%2c162%...
[3]: https://patents.google.com/patent/USD685775S1/en?oq=D685%2c7...