Every now and then something big happens in the world of technology and over the last few months the big things that have been happening almost all have to do with multitouch in some way, shape or form.  From the release of the Surface computer and the iPhone all the way to the current companies that are looking to release multitouch products, this technology has become the big thing in gadgets today.

However, Apple has the power within their grasp to bring all non-Apple multitouch products screaming to a halt if they are granted a number of different patents for their iPhone product.  These patents, while a long way away from being accepted and having no guarantee of acceptance even when they are reviewed, are perhaps the most powerful patents to be filed in technology in recent memory.

One can just see the legal problems cropping up around the use of Multitouch technology, as Microsoft is another company that could very well lay claim to the multitouch patents that could allow them to control the development of this technology for the near future.  After all, the Microsoft Surface computer predates the launch of the iPhone and Steve Jobs (Apple CEO) even admits that Microsoft’s multitouch technology was used as a basis for the construction of an improved version in the iPhone.

Apple’s counter-claim however can also be understood, since the Apple iPhone is easily the first mainstream product to carry multitouch technology on it.  It is not clear when the patents will be decided and who will get them, but people that are actively following the multitouch market should be aware of the legal battles going on behind the scenes.