Real reason why Boston U wants permanent ban on Apple Inc’s iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and iPad 4

Boston University has sued Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) for patent infringement, and has sought a ban on its spearhead devices including but not limited to the iPhone 5, iPad and MacBook Air.

Trustees of the distinguished academic institution have alleged, in a complaint filed this week in the Massachusetts federal court, that Apple Inc.’s products contain a “gallium nitride thin film semiconductor device” that is still under patent protection.

The thin film semiconductor device in question is what powers the LEDs in the iPhones, iPads and MacBook Airs. What’s more, Apple Inc.’s next-generation iPhone 6 is widely expected to include a dual-LED flash (as compared to single LED flashes in the current-generation iPhone 5), which has the potential to dramatically improve low-light photographs shot with the iPhone 6.

At least that was what Apple fans were hoping for. That hope, however, seems to be stalled now that Boston U has sought an injunction against the sale of all Apple devices that use the so-called gallium nitride thin-film semiconductor device.

Read More