New litigations

Apple Computer announced that Japanese officials have granted the company a preliminary injunction preventing computer maker K.K. Sotec from manufacturing or distributing its eOne brand of personal computers. Apple claims that the eOne copies the design of Apple_s own iMac computer; the PC-compatible eOne features a one-box design and translucent blue and white case material that make it appear markedly similar to the iMac. Apple has similar litigation pending in U.S. courts against eMachines, which distributes eOne for sale in Circuit City electronics stores across the United States. Apple also has filed litigation against computer makers Future Power and Daewoo, which earlier this year demonstrated another single-box computer design called e-Power at PC Expo in New York City. e-Power, a PC-compatible computer built around Intel_s Celeron processor, even more closely mimics the iMac_s design by incorporating an egg-shaped architecture and featuring multiple color schemes almost identical to the iMac_s casing. The e-Power has not yet gone into production. The preliminary injunction, which was granted in Tokyo District Court today, forbids Sotec from manufacturing, selling, displaying, exporting or importing eOne.