Apple, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Lenovo, Panasonic, HTC, Palm, Samsung, Nokia and LG Electronics have been added to a patent infringement lawsuit originally bought against Dell by a company called Typhoon Touch Technologies, which is alleging that Apple and the others have infringed on patents it holds on touch-screen technology.

Typhoon says that the defendants have infringed its American patent titled “Portable Computer with Touch Screen and Computer System Employing Same” and another very similarly titled patent dating from 11 years ago.

“The addition of these defendants is a further step in protecting Typhoon’s IP from being unfairly exploited. Hopefully, the world of potential infringers will take notice that it is the company’s intent to aggressively protect its intellectual property,” said Typhoon’s director Craig Weiner, who puzzlingly works for a law firm called Hofheimer, Gartlir & Gross, rather than a hi-tech creative company.

Intrigued, I wanted to find out more about Typhoon Touch Technologies and its clever invention. So I went to its website. Was I surprised when there was no mention of any application of the company’s ground-breaking invention? Not really. The company’s sole purpose is apparent from page one — to launch vexatious law suits against companies with deep pockets. The fourth word on the home page is LITIGATION.

This is the most contemptuous, most parasitic of all human occupations. The world has more than enough pimps, thieves, thugs and dealers, but most of them are too ill-educated or too stupid to do anything different. I have no good words to say of these people, but I suspect they are all doing something they would rather not be doing. Mr Weiner and his cronies contribute nothing to the greater good. I would genuinely be surprised if anyone from Typhoon Touch Technologies had the faintest clue how Apple and the others created and use their touch screen technology.

I suspect this company is a legal shell which acquired these patents from some hapless inventor who had an unfulfilled dream — a “Portable Computer with Touch Screen” in 1997? I don’t think so. Apple’s Newton had a touch screen in 1993 but they gave up in 1998.

There must be a smart phrase that describes such grubby little operations. No doubt someone will tell me.

Or I might be totally wrong.

Judd Goldsteiner or whoever the guy was had this BRILLIANT idea, four years after never having seen an Apple Newton, and successfully took out a patent on it. Hardship and penury followed as he struggled to get his genius recognised, while all those bastard giant electronic giants simply ignored him, stole his ideas and capitalised on them.

And now it’s comeback time. With the kindly help of a benevolent old New York lawyer, he’s struggling to gain recognition for his hours of inspiration and perspiration. The odds are long, but he’s prepared to fight every inch of the way to get what is rightfully his. The money isn’t important, it’s the principle of the thing.

But you know what? I don’t think there is a Judd Goldsteiner. Whoever invented this thing and won the patent is probably long gone.

This looks like a despicable bunch of lawyers on the make.